Growing Up Online v. Digital Nation
Kidd Heat
1. Compare and Contrast each documentary. What has changed from the first one (Growing Up Online) made in 2008 to the newer one (Digital Nation) filmed in 2010 ? How did what you watched in the two videos support your feelings about technology or how did it change your views?
The ability for kids to access both a wide array of technology and to communicate with anyone and everybody online has changed since 2008 to 2012. Especially with the use of twitter, Instagram, continual rise of Facebook, and many other networking sites. In the first video, my thoughts on the appropriate and safe use of technology were confirmed by the actions of the children and reactions by their parents. I could really feel for Jess aka Amber as I also remember trying to become someone else online when I was a younger user. My use was also not monitored and I tried to become a different person while I played xbox live or surfed AIM in the early days of technology. However, she was taking risky photos at the age of 14 and although she might have looked 18 and pretended to be an adult, she was NOT. I believe the real problem that I see here, and that I have always seen with technology, is that teenagers must be monitored online and taught digital citizenship BEFORE they enter the online world. There is other ways Jess could show her individualism without taking indecent photos and pretending to be something she was not. My other problem with my feelings towards technology and is the overuse and over reliance on the technology. In the second documentary, I believe the MIT students as well as the Korean students show that at times teenagers, students, and all people in general need to unplug from the technological world from time to time. I have always thought that if we overuse and abuse the use of technology more and more, the kids of the next generation will only exponentially make the same mistakes. If this problem is not addressed with our own students and kids, the message will not be understood and the next generation will have little to nor social skills and will show the inability to "think outside the box", or computer in this case.
2. Your thoughts on multitasking. Do you agree? Can you multitask? Do you disagree with the video on the topic of multitasking?
I have to agree with the Digital Nation and it's study on multitasking. I have always been one to multitask, however I know for a fact that my best work is done when I focus on "one" task at hand and perform that task to the best of my ability. I do believe teachers must be able to multitask but they also must know their limit and stick to it. If we extend ourselves to much, we will not be as great as we can be. I also believe that with all people, especially students, a plate that is too full can have adverse affects on not only outcome but can stunt a person's ability to focus and stay on task.
3. Is there an addiction happening in society today with technology or is it just a new way of living? Should we be concerned?
I agree 100% that the use of technology in society today is an addiction for many, many people. I believe we all must "unplug" to keep our sanity and for those who are overly addicting to certain elements of technology it can be harmful to our physical health. Take for instance this story about a healthy 19 year old in Taiwan that died after playing a popular video game, Diablo 3, for 40 hours straight without eating. It is sickening that society would 1) allow this and 2) no one would worry about his safety especially those who ran the internet cafe. This is not the first time and like in the documentary there can be other adverse side effects to being "cooped up" in front of the computer or the xbox for extended periods of time. As a society, we stress to not do illicit drugs, drink too much, or smoke too much but we need to start emphasizing that we can not be "addicted" to the technology we rely on and spend too many hours abusing a gift we have been given.
4. Do video games serve a purpose in education or are they a waste of time?
Video games can be extremely beneficial in the educational field if monitored and used effectively. For instance, special education students can play games geared towards implementing a specific goal or function and training the student to repeat this task correctly over and over again. I also think games that involve strategy are good to stimulate the brain in ways and times that we might not be using the brain in an effective way. I remember playing the board game war and other video games growing up such as Carmen San Diego where you had to use logic in order to win the game. Although many games do not have educational value there are those who are extremely effective and can help a student by emphasizing memory or a skill they might not have learned otherwise. They are certainly not a waste of time when used and applied in an efficient manner.
5. Do you believe that digital tools such as google tools can save schools that are struggling?
I really do believe that if google tools are taught to all and used effectively, that they could save many schools. Take for instance the school in New York, the principal reported that she saw a major difference in the students and also that violence had dropped significantly. I believe that by teaching the technology first and then incorporating it into every day education you can save a struggling school by giving the teachers and the students the tools to perform tasks they might not have been able to perform previously. We must be educated on these google tools before trying to show someone else, especially a student, how they can better their live and performance by using these tools.
6. Do parents of today have any idea what their kids are doing online? Whose job is it to teach them the safety and digital responsibility? Parents/Teachers/Community/Government??
In all honesty, I believe in general parents DO NOT know what their children are doing online but I do believe digital citizenship is becoming more and more recognized. I know for a fact that when I have my own kids I will 110% monitor their activities both on and offline. I do believe it is the parent's responsibility but I do not think is their fault as to be naive on the topic. If you think about the difference in technology of say a 45 year old mom compared with her 16 year old daughter, it is almost unbelievable to see the difference between the two. I think parent must educate themselves on digital citizenship and align themselves with their kids teachers in order to safeguard their experience while in school and after they graduate with technology and their online time. I believe the community and community places such as the library can put restrictions on access and protect their kids with regard to their use of technology. I think the Government should only step in to help protect people online from predators and people who misuse technology in order to exploit people especially children.
7. Are kids and adults today ruining their digital footprints by sharing too much information online without realizing that it may be detrimental to their future? Should they care?
Adults and kids must be careful to not "over share" their lives on Facebook and other networking sites. Adults must also be sure to safeguard their personal and financial information. All it takes is someone to get a hold of your social security number and your bank card information and your identity could be stolen all across the globe. I believe kids from the time they are first using networking websites, such as Facebook or myspace, do not realize that what they post is seen by many, many people. For instance, when I was in my second year at UNH i changed my facebook name to Kidd Heat in order to prevent graduate schools and potential employers from seeing my private pictures and private comments between my friends and myself. Students; whether in middle school, high school, or college, must care about what they are representing themselves as with their digital footprint and made aware that what they do as a 17 year old could affect not just their acceptance into college but at any time in their life.
8.“Stranger Danger” and predator fears are often overblown by the media on shows such as Datelines “To Catch a Predator”. What are the real dangers of technology in this day and age?
When I have my own children, I will fear that that someone will stalk them or attempt to hide their own identity and mislead my child into befriending them. I will educate my children that just as they would not talk to a stranger in "real" life, they must not talk to a stranger in the online "world." However, I think there are many other dangers of technology that are overlooked and are only coming to late as of late in this day and age. I am extremely pleased at the efforts that being made in regards to cyber-bullying and I hope they continue to make more and more progress in stoping these acts of malicious wrongdoing. I used to think why doesn't the kid just stand up to the bully and punch him square in the face like the old days, but I learned how bad it can really be when you are bullied in the cyber world. There is almost never just one bully and there is never just one form of attack. Bullies use all forms of technology to poke fun and cause malice to their victims and unfortunately as we have seen in the past it can have devastating consequences. As the New Hampshire State Police tag lined this summer, it too can apply to cyber-bullying, "one death is too many." Let's fight cyber-bullying by monitoring our kids and our students and creating a more accepting generation in the near future.
Feel free to add anything else you feel would explain your views about the videos and how they relate to educational technology. What was your favorite part of either video? Why? Most interesting?
I personally really enjoyed the first video because I have battled problems with compulsion my entire life and as many people know a compulsive person can have problems with anything you can become addicted too. I have limited my time on the computer and on the xbox as I used to spend far too long staring at the screen and to be honest my vision and physical and mental health were ultimately compromised. I now work out and spend more time with family and friends in an effort to keep myself to returning to previous problems. I believe strongly that any buddy can become addicted to anything but with help and the right attitude any obstacle can be overcome. "Nothing in life is easy, but anything is possible."
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