Comments on: “Get Off the Computer!” http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: computersarntbad http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-57688 computersarntbad Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:34:35 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-57688 I liked reading this too! but not because its good, because you people are full of shit! Computers are actually not a bad thing at all, more reading is done ON the computer than off most of the time. Im actually a teenage boy who, like a lot of others, loves video games and youtube and such. I often find myself spending 4 hours+ on the computer. So even though all of you think its a REALLY bad thing, its not really, i still exersize and eat healthy, and im an overall healthy person. So, please try and rethink what your saying here. p.s. In the near future, almost every person in america will have a computer for themselves. A recent study shows that there are officially more TVs in a household than that of people(which isnt saying that much) I liked reading this too! but not because its good, because you people are full of shit! Computers are actually not a bad thing at all, more reading is done ON the computer than off most of the time. Im actually a teenage boy who, like a lot of others, loves video games and youtube and such. I often find myself spending 4 hours+ on the computer. So even though all of you think its a REALLY bad thing, its not really, i still exersize and eat healthy, and im an overall healthy person. So, please try and rethink what your saying here.

p.s. In the near future, almost every person in america will have a computer for themselves. A recent study shows that there are officially more TVs in a household than that of people(which isnt saying that much)

]]> By: Amy http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-57260 Amy Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:18:12 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-57260 I really enjoyed reading this! I have 3 children and they have a 45 minute limit on "screen time". This includes T.V., computer, Wii and anytning else that allows them to zone out and not be a contributing member of the family! I hope that the hikes, bike rides, visits to the library, camping and other adventures we have encountered this summer create memories that span farther than any website will ever take them!! I really enjoyed reading this! I have 3 children and they have a 45 minute limit on “screen time”. This includes T.V., computer, Wii and anytning else that allows them to zone out and not be a contributing member of the family! I hope that the hikes, bike rides, visits to the library, camping and other adventures we have encountered this summer create memories that span farther than any website will ever take them!!

]]> By: Erin http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56997 Erin Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:26:58 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56997 I really enjoyed your thoughts on limiting technology time. My son is 7 and if I let him, he would sit at the computer or with the Nintendo D.S. all day long. He gets 1/2 hour a day to do his thing (somethimes a bit longer in the summer) but we try to break this time up. Not because I don't see technology as a huge asset but b/c I truly believe in imaginative play. I want him to love riding his bike, reading, and playing board games just as much as he loves playing with the "techie" stuff. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your thoughts on limiting technology time. My son is 7 and if I let him, he would sit at the computer or with the Nintendo D.S. all day long. He gets 1/2 hour a day to do his thing (somethimes a bit longer in the summer) but we try to break this time up. Not because I don’t see technology as a huge asset but b/c I truly believe in imaginative play. I want him to love riding his bike, reading, and playing board games just as much as he loves playing with the “techie” stuff. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Joshua Kraus http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56727 Joshua Kraus Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:18:44 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56727 I was raised just before the tech boom with kids. I was in college when everyone was locked to their computer screens either typing away madly or playing video games. I admit I was often one of them. And I am a teacher now and see the results of kids who spend way too much time on-line, playing video games or simply inside not doing anything. I love to get out and do things. Honestly the computer is where I turn when I am bored and have nothing else to do. And recently I have decided to not watch TV anymore and I read when I am "Bored" I am a better person for this and hope to pass this onto kids if/when I have them. Well I have passed my allotted computer time now and have to get off. I was raised just before the tech boom with kids. I was in college when everyone was locked to their computer screens either typing away madly or playing video games. I admit I was often one of them. And I am a teacher now and see the results of kids who spend way too much time on-line, playing video games or simply inside not doing anything. I love to get out and do things. Honestly the computer is where I turn when I am bored and have nothing else to do. And recently I have decided to not watch TV anymore and I read when I am “Bored” I am a better person for this and hope to pass this onto kids if/when I have them. Well I have passed my allotted computer time now and have to get off.

]]> By: Jan http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56421 Jan Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:40:56 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56421 I think you hit the nail on the head but I don't think it is called boredom. Boredom has a negative feeling and this quiet, unplugged time is a positive thing. We need to give our kids time to listen. Listen to themselves, find out who they are, listen to that still small voice we/they have been blocking out with all the noise of technology, the voice that unlocks our creativity. I also agree that school is not the place for this boredom. School should be a technology rich place, a place of discovery, a place to guide 21st Century learners into using technology as a learning tool, not just a game machine. I think you hit the nail on the head but I don’t think it is called boredom. Boredom has a negative feeling and this quiet, unplugged time is a positive thing. We need to give our kids time to listen. Listen to themselves, find out who they are, listen to that still small voice we/they have been blocking out with all the noise of technology, the voice that unlocks our creativity. I also agree that school is not the place for this boredom. School should be a technology rich place, a place of discovery, a place to guide 21st Century learners into using technology as a learning tool, not just a game machine.

]]> By: Betty http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56345 Betty Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:19:23 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56345 What a great post. It is okay to be bored, but for some reason a lot of kids and parents think that every second of the day needs to be entertaining. I'd much rather be active than watch television. Admittedly, I do have to limit my own time on the computer. It is a bit addicting.:) What a great post. It is okay to be bored, but for some reason a lot of kids and parents think that every second of the day needs to be entertaining. I’d much rather be active than watch television. Admittedly, I do have to limit my own time on the computer. It is a bit addicting.:)

]]> By: Michael http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56335 Michael Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:40:40 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56335 That's a really good point. “Sometimes it’s good to let them be bored.” But it's a controlled type of bored. My fiance's parents let her younger brother play hours and hours of video games, held up in his room, a soda parked on the side. He's got one true friend who visits a rare occasions, otherwise, it's back to the video games. I dread to think how his high school and further years are going to be if his parents allow him to stay on this track. That’s a really good point.

“Sometimes it’s good to let them be bored.”

But it’s a controlled type of bored. My fiance’s parents let her younger brother play hours and hours of video games, held up in his room, a soda parked on the side. He’s got one true friend who visits a rare occasions, otherwise, it’s back to the video games. I dread to think how his high school and further years are going to be if his parents allow him to stay on this track.

]]> By: carol http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56319 carol Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:30:26 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56319 In the 80s I had a summer Computer Kids Computer Club summer program. Hundreds of kids tried to sign up for this. Then I became a runner. One summer in mid-90s I tried to combine running and computers. No one signed up. Now (and for the past 5 years) I've had an after-school Happy Feet, Healthy Food kids' club. It combines literacy, play, running, hiking, and healthy eating. Just like the 80s - more kids sign up than I can handle. The only part computers have in this is that I put my lesson plans and club ideas online to share. I don't use computers as much with my young students in the class as I used to. I did find a nice explodethecode.com program for the children having trouble learning to read and a few others, but I don't worry about giving them as much computer time as I used to. Now, I'd rather have them do other things. In the 80s I had a summer Computer Kids Computer Club summer program. Hundreds of kids tried to sign up for this.
Then I became a runner. One summer in mid-90s I tried to combine running and computers. No one signed up.
Now (and for the past 5 years) I’ve had an after-school Happy Feet, Healthy Food kids’ club. It combines literacy, play, running, hiking, and healthy eating. Just like the 80s – more kids sign up than I can handle.
The only part computers have in this is that I put my lesson plans and club ideas online to share.
I don’t use computers as much with my young students in the class as I used to.
I did find a nice explodethecode.com program for the children having trouble learning to read and a few others, but I don’t worry about giving them as much computer time as I used to. Now, I’d rather have them do other things.

]]> By: ron http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56288 ron Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:12:17 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56288 Kids definitely need time away from the computers to be able to exercise, not only their bodies, but their brains. Too much of the same is not good for anyone. :-) Kids definitely need time away from the computers to be able to exercise, not only their bodies, but their brains. Too much of the same is not good for anyone. :-)

]]> By: David Colon http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56262 David Colon Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:45:28 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56262 I'm with you on the boredom principle. My kids love all things electronic and prying them away from it makes them go nuts. Odd thing is, though, that after a few minutes away from it, they start making up the most amazing imaginative ways to occupy their time. They get outside, play with the neighborhood kids, write stories, invent games and the like. I'm all for the new technologies and have no problem with my kids interacting with it, but they also need to explore other things as well. Great post! I’m with you on the boredom principle. My kids love all things electronic and prying them away from it makes them go nuts. Odd thing is, though, that after a few minutes away from it, they start making up the most amazing imaginative ways to occupy their time. They get outside, play with the neighborhood kids, write stories, invent games and the like.

I’m all for the new technologies and have no problem with my kids interacting with it, but they also need to explore other things as well. Great post!

]]> By: Shelley http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56242 Shelley Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:37:49 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56242 @Sara Kajder They DO still want to be like us, don't they? It's a massive responsibility. I need to lay off checking email when I should be giving my son my undivided attention. (Seems like that should be "unsplintered attention," these days.) @Tom Hoffman Really interesting point! I've been periodically letting our son "swap out" his .5 hrs of media time (previously almost exclusively PBS television time) for a round of Desktop Tower Defense. It feels like an okay use of his time and he loves theorizing about how to make a better maze for the creeps. (He'll be 7 in September.) But I wonder if this is the slippery slope. We treat any claims of boredom as a cause for elaborated concern -- boredom tends to affect those whose brains are having trouble, we say -- this hasn't eliminated boredom, but has effectively eliminated boredom-induced whining, which was our goal. I'm going to be thinking about this today... what role do computers play in our young people's lives, and to what end? @Sara Kajder They DO still want to be like us, don’t they? It’s a massive responsibility. I need to lay off checking email when I should be giving my son my undivided attention. (Seems like that should be “unsplintered attention,” these days.)

@Tom Hoffman Really interesting point!

I’ve been periodically letting our son “swap out” his .5 hrs of media time (previously almost exclusively PBS television time) for a round of Desktop Tower Defense. It feels like an okay use of his time and he loves theorizing about how to make a better maze for the creeps. (He’ll be 7 in September.) But I wonder if this is the slippery slope.

We treat any claims of boredom as a cause for elaborated concern — boredom tends to affect those whose brains are having trouble, we say — this hasn’t eliminated boredom, but has effectively eliminated boredom-induced whining, which was our goal.

I’m going to be thinking about this today… what role do computers play in our young people’s lives, and to what end?

]]> By: Tom Hoffman http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56227 Tom Hoffman Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:23:19 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56227 I can't quite articulate this clearly enough to stand on its own as a post, particularly because I'm just guessing how we might handle Vivian a half dozen years from now, but I do think that there is a constructionism vs. connectivism issue here. A constructionist believes that computers are uniquely tools for learning -- computational thinking is powerful and important, and starting early is good. As a theory it directly addresses young kids. In connectivism, computers are primarily communication tools -- learning tools insofar as they foster communication -- and in most cases, their importance doesn't kick in until later. I can’t quite articulate this clearly enough to stand on its own as a post, particularly because I’m just guessing how we might handle Vivian a half dozen years from now, but I do think that there is a constructionism vs. connectivism issue here. A constructionist believes that computers are uniquely tools for learning — computational thinking is powerful and important, and starting early is good. As a theory it directly addresses young kids. In connectivism, computers are primarily communication tools — learning tools insofar as they foster communication — and in most cases, their importance doesn’t kick in until later.

]]> By: edfoc.us » Blog Archive » A Conversation About Nothing and Something http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56225 edfoc.us » Blog Archive » A Conversation About Nothing and Something Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:01:40 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56225 [...] Yet, I kept saying to myself, “Self, how are you going to introduce the idea of writing conversationally (on the Internet mind you), exploring diverse and antagonistic perspectives, and do this in a manner that is applicable to students? What is the entry point that can serve as an introductory model for the possibilities?” When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, a post about nothingness and an entry about bored kids that can be found right here. [...] [...] Yet, I kept saying to myself, “Self, how are you going to introduce the idea of writing conversationally (on the Internet mind you), exploring diverse and antagonistic perspectives, and do this in a manner that is applicable to students? What is the entry point that can serve as an introductory model for the possibilities?” When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, a post about nothingness and an entry about bored kids that can be found right here. [...]

]]> By: Chris Lehmann http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56222 Chris Lehmann Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:16:23 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56222 Go Phillies! Go Phillies!

]]> By: N.D. http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/get-off-the-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56215 N.D. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:08:29 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/?p=2877#comment-56215 That's great that you are encouraging a physical lifestyle and monitoring computer time. I don't know how many parents out there are successfully doing so. The TV being hardly an entertaining tool is key, and differentiating between computer use for games and such versus helpful things is great. That’s great that you are encouraging a physical lifestyle and monitoring computer time. I don’t know how many parents out there are successfully doing so. The TV being hardly an entertaining tool is key, and differentiating between computer use for games and such versus helpful things is great.

]]>