Comments on: “So Why Do You Only Give Your Kids 45-Minutes a Day on the Computer?”

By: How Much Gaming in Schools and The Element | An Expat Educator in Asia

How Much Gaming in Schools and The Element | An Expat Educator in Asia — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 07:09:44 +0000

[...] going to let them develop this intelligence and hope it leads to a rewarding future.” Even Will Richardson expects adults to direct kids into broader learning at schools. Given this, where is the guidance [...]

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:52:46 +0000

I agree with what you said about “Every hour spent in front of a screen is an hour not spent in the real world — in communities, in nature, with friends, in libraries and museums, drawing, reading, creating and experiencing life. Yes, there are virtual versions of most of these things online, but we know it’s not the same. I want my kids experiencing their world first-hand.” I am taking a technology in the classroom grad class and one of the projects is to write a con ppt for using tech in the classroom. Cognitively speaking, children from the ages 2 to 11 need concrete interface with everything. To put them on a computer and expect them to learn like an older student would is wrong. The younger they are the more HUMAN contact they need to build social skills, as well as, learning how the real world works. In saying that, I understand that some kids mature faster than others, which leaves us in the same place… how much is too much “screen time”?

By: Paul James

Paul James — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:07:13 +0000

Thought-provoking post. It seems to me that balance is the key. We have 2 boys, aged 5 and 8, who are very active and love to be outside, but also enjoy playing on the DS, the Wii and the computer.

We do limit their time on games to about 30 minutes per day (a bit more at weekends), but encourage use of more traditional learning software (also games!!) such as WordShark and NumberShark. Is this a contradiction? Sometimes “going on the computer/DS/Wii” stimulates creativity and discussion, at other times the intensity of it all can wind the boys up and cause conflict.

I have noticed that our boys can sometimes go for days without even asking to play on a games console or the computer. This makes me think that we have got it about right.

I know that we will have on-going discussions about this issue as they get older and their interests change. However, I believe that the principle of a “balanced” lifestyle is one that will help us to ensure that our sons grow up able to benefit from computers/the web and other new technologies, without losing sight of the fact that there are other more important things to be doing with their time.

By: Friendo68

Friendo68 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:45:02 +0000

It’s tough to say how much is too much. Interactive video games and computer activities are better than staring at the TV in my opinion. I think there are also differences in the type of play that is occurring. Is the child playing alone or is the child playing video games with siblings or friends? There’s always the weather factor. In the winter I can see letting kids play a little longer because it’s 10 degrees outside. It’s different when the weather warms up and it’s not a chore to get dressed just to go out the door. I think an hour a day is fine and maybe a little more on the weekends as long as the children are active when they are away from the screens. My kids love to read and the 10 year old likes to cook. It’s all about balancing. Some of my favorite memories as a kid are when my friends and I would play the Atari 2600 together. Of course we’d also play wiffleball and ride bikes without anyone telling us to go outside and do it.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:48:46 +0000

Unfortunately there is not enough age-appropriate content online that stimulates the kinds of discussions I can have with my kids as Maus I & II, Chasing Vermeer, or ghostgirl can. Once there is more age-appropriate reading online that also sparks their interest, I’ll be happy to let them read away online in the car or in their bed.

By: Steve Ransom

Steve Ransom — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:46:27 +0000

Jeremy, your honesty about this is probably true for most… at least it is for me. I was at Starbucks the other day and of the 9 people who were frequenting the shop, 7 were “plugged in” and yet physically alone. I made the observation that coffee shops used to be where you went to meet with people in the flesh. Of course that still happens, but more and more these virtual social places are creating isolated physical places for some. It happens for me at home when there is some Elluminate or Wimba session I want to attend and my kids are wanting/needing my attention. I think because information and connection is so convenient and accessible it is also hard to resist. It’s strange and hard to figure out really what is going on. But today I was listening to a video presentation by Yong Zhao from Michigan State titled The Social Life of Technology: An ecological analysis of technology diffusion in schools and its implications for teacher professional development and in it he references Bertram (Chip) Bruce who comments, “We tend to overestimate the short-term effects and underestimate the long-term effects of innovation.”

I think the key is that we continue to critically think and discuss issues related to societal/cultural change. Neil Postman was often a hard critic, but had and still has some extremely valuable ideas for us to think about. His notion of “faustian bargain” is one that we must continually think about.

So, let me post this comment and get back to my family

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:09:33 +0000

Even as I typed that about the “real world”, I knew it was easy to poke holes in it. I guess that’s why I also added: “Yes, there are virtual versions of most of these things online, but we know it’s not the same.” And by that I mean that I don’t believe there is the same value in online communities…but I also know that’s a value that others won’t share.

What I was getting at here is that I’ve been really questioning my own online habits lately, and how the sheer amount of time I spend plugged into the network takes time away from the offline things I claim to value way more. The photographic discussions I participate in on Flickr are fun for me, and often involve some good learning, but I spend more time doing that in a week than I do hanging out with my “real life” friends, or even in the local coffee shop where I might bump into neighbours who have a much bigger role in shaping my life and community than anyone I know online.

The network seems to be trumping what I actually value, almost by accident, because it’s easier to engage online (asynchronous) and integrate it into the rest of life somehow.

By: Tim Goree

Tim Goree — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:53:32 +0000

Many bloggers are narcissistic, but blogging itself is not narcissism.

It seems pretty narcissistic to me, however, to continually comb through other people’s posts and answer them with trite questions that only allude to an informed opinion, but don’t actually articulate one.

By: Joseph Corbett

Joseph Corbett — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:14:22 +0000

The more web 2.0 technologies become a standard in Business, Education, and Socializing the more controversy will swirl around them. What came first? The bad habits (too much screen time) or the propensity to adopt bad habits when introduced to them? You might want to check out the http://www.isteconnects.com where there are two Nings populated by educators who I’m sure could give you some opinions about this topic. Great Post!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:00:42 +0000

Mom Blogs – Blogs for Moms…

…

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:14:31 +0000

Thanks for those thoughts, Steve. I imagine there are lots of parents who really don’t think too much about this stuff, in fact I know it. Not saying they’re not good parents, but I sometimes wonder why they avoid it. And for me, at least, there is a huge issue of social interaction that comes into play.

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:12:28 +0000

Schoolwork? What’s that? ;0) My kids never have work to do on the computer.

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:11:42 +0000

Barn Dad! Thanks for looking after my kids. ;0)

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:11:17 +0000

If you could hear some of the “conversations” in my house over the Wii… ;0)

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:10:24 +0000

Hey Jeremy…I was struck by the “is an hour not spent in the real world” part. Isn’t online community “real world.” If I’m interacting with folks on Skype or Ustream or Twitter or here in the comments, is that of less value than being off screen? Not pushing back real hard here, just asking. I think it does come down to some balance, and I have to say I’m unsettled by kids who spend the majority of their free time on the computer.