In the last few weeks I have been watching children use online virtual worlds. My nieces, 5 and 7, could navigate the mouse and keys around Webkinz better than some adults I know. They could explain to me features of the world, how to earn money, and how to take care of their webkinz animals. Even though they can't read yet, they navigate the site with ease and without any help.
The girls also told me about a war going on between Webkinz and Neopets. According to them, they know people who have had their Webkinz killed by invading Neopets. One niece is considering sending one of her Webkinz off to war. I haven't done the research yet to know if this war is real, but it is surely real to these kindergarten and first grade girls. An older girl at camp told them about the war so it must be true. I wonder if this type of rumor (or actual virtual war) is helpful to children as they try to make sense of real world violence and war, or if it just adds to the stress and anxiety some children feel about life, based on news, overheard conversations, or personal experiences.
I also had a 4th grader show me life in Club Penguin. His mother said that their house is the place to be because they have a computer and Internet. There are days she has to time the kids on the computer, rotating turns because all the neighborhood kids (kindergarten through 8th grade) come to use the computer. Their favorite places are Club Penguin and Webkinz. The 4th grader introduced me to his Penguin, some of the club's features, and his igloo, complete with a drum set like he plays in school.
I can't imagine what things are going to be like when my 14 month old is in school. Perhaps he'll just go to class virtually, have friends online (all our West Coast baby friends) and we'll all feel safer that our kids are locked in the house sitting on the computer. I am sure that is part of the appeal for parents. Virtual worlds and video games are more interactive than sitting in front of the TV, but it is keeping kids at home or at a friends house where you can keep an eye on them and know they are safe.
I thought about what hooks children in to these virtual worlds. Other than them being fun (My husband and I had a good time on Webkinz playing the games). For my nieces, and many children, the virtual worlds are where they can have control. In a time where many activities are planned and children are moved from one structured activity to another, having a place where they make the decisions, choose what to do, and how to do it, must be liberating. Parents are happy because kids are safely at home and occupied, kids are happy because they are playing, thinking, and choosing.
For Christmas my son is getting is first video game console, designed for babies and toddlers. My presents to others include MP3 players, digital cameras, and DVD players. I am hoping for a new computer soon. I think our world has become technologically interactive, and we must brace ourselves for the wave of the future. Preparing children, teaching them how to be on the Internet safely and appropriately is important, because whether or not we have a computer at home, kids are flocking to the nearest one to hang out with their friends and explore the virtual world.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Non Web Tools
Last week, right before class, I was at the Doctor's office. We realized that the visit was going to run in to class time, we were getting hungry, and there was nothing at home to heat up fast. So, a pizza sounded like a good idea. My husband asked the receptionist for a phone book, but she never brought it to him. He thought of using his cell phone to call information, but at about $1.50 for each call, it didn't seem worth it. If only we had a way to get the pizza place's phone number.
Instead of calling ahead, my husband ended up driving to the pizza place, placing the order, and waiting. Thanks to what I learned in class though, we now won't have to do that...
Google, who I think must have marketing geniuses, has entered the world of 411 and text messaging . For only the cost of a text message or cell phone call (of which I rarely go over my limit) I can now text or call Google for phone numbers, the weather, or to answer simple questions. I now have my local pizza place's number, and address, saved as a text message, along with a couple of other local pizza places. As someone who depends on her cell phone as her main means of communication, I really appreciate ways that I can incoporate it in to my daily needs-I use it for phone calls, to text a friend, share pictures of my son, and record interesting events. It is my main address "book", photo album, and watch. I am exciting that now, without paying an extra fee, I can also use it as my yellow pages.
Mind you, Google isn't the only way you can get free information. I have used 18005551212 for years for free 800 numbers. My father told me today about an information phone number you can call that is free, provided that you listen to some "brief" advertisments first. He said he uses it a lot, but wonders sometimes if it would be cheaper to just pay the $1.50 rather than spend the airtime and personal time to listen to ads (what is my time worth?).
My first cell phone, in 2000, was basic. It didn't even have a headphone jack or a vibrate option. My current cell phone, almost 2 years old, has video, a 2 MP camera, the ability to play music, as well as the basics like speaker phone, voice operated dialing, and, most importantly the ability to make phone calls. I have gone through 4 models in 7 years, and can't wait to get a new one in a few months. I don't need all the bells and whistles, but I would love something I can use for everything from texting, to pictures, to music, as well as have reception in Vermont. As we continue to expand the use of cell phones--Googling for info, responding to radio contests, checking in with airlines, staying in touch with people around the world, we will continue to demand better service and better phones. I can't imagine what my phone will look like in a couple of years--how much can we expect or need from a little portable phone?
I expect reliable service, my husband expects a 24 clock (we haven't found a Verizon cell phone yet that will change from 12 hour mode), and my 14 month old son expects noise-beeping, and images. I expect that I will continue to use a cell phone for communcating, sharing ideas and my life, as well as integrate it further in to work, play, and planning. We are a portable age--and the cell phone in my pocket is here to stay.
Instead of calling ahead, my husband ended up driving to the pizza place, placing the order, and waiting. Thanks to what I learned in class though, we now won't have to do that...
Google, who I think must have marketing geniuses, has entered the world of 411 and text messaging . For only the cost of a text message or cell phone call (of which I rarely go over my limit) I can now text or call Google for phone numbers, the weather, or to answer simple questions. I now have my local pizza place's number, and address, saved as a text message, along with a couple of other local pizza places. As someone who depends on her cell phone as her main means of communication, I really appreciate ways that I can incoporate it in to my daily needs-I use it for phone calls, to text a friend, share pictures of my son, and record interesting events. It is my main address "book", photo album, and watch. I am exciting that now, without paying an extra fee, I can also use it as my yellow pages.
Mind you, Google isn't the only way you can get free information. I have used 18005551212 for years for free 800 numbers. My father told me today about an information phone number you can call that is free, provided that you listen to some "brief" advertisments first. He said he uses it a lot, but wonders sometimes if it would be cheaper to just pay the $1.50 rather than spend the airtime and personal time to listen to ads (what is my time worth?).
My first cell phone, in 2000, was basic. It didn't even have a headphone jack or a vibrate option. My current cell phone, almost 2 years old, has video, a 2 MP camera, the ability to play music, as well as the basics like speaker phone, voice operated dialing, and, most importantly the ability to make phone calls. I have gone through 4 models in 7 years, and can't wait to get a new one in a few months. I don't need all the bells and whistles, but I would love something I can use for everything from texting, to pictures, to music, as well as have reception in Vermont. As we continue to expand the use of cell phones--Googling for info, responding to radio contests, checking in with airlines, staying in touch with people around the world, we will continue to demand better service and better phones. I can't imagine what my phone will look like in a couple of years--how much can we expect or need from a little portable phone?
I expect reliable service, my husband expects a 24 clock (we haven't found a Verizon cell phone yet that will change from 12 hour mode), and my 14 month old son expects noise-beeping, and images. I expect that I will continue to use a cell phone for communcating, sharing ideas and my life, as well as integrate it further in to work, play, and planning. We are a portable age--and the cell phone in my pocket is here to stay.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Students using Social Networks
We have a policy at the K-8 school I work at that students may not log on to any site that requires a username and password unless instructed to, and monitored by, a teacher. When we created this policy, we did it with thoughts on MySpace (which is now blocked by our filter) and email. However, now that many sites require usernames and passwords, we may need to reconsider this policy.
As the library media specialist I get asked at least once a day by a student if they can get on to a site that requires a password--"it's harmless", "it's safe", "I am picking from a username so I'm not really logging on" are some of the arguements they give me, and that is just the 1st graders. Sites include Webkinz (which our filter seems to block surprisingly), Club Penguin, and Garbage Pail Kids. Older students want to log on to MySpace, Facebook, and game sites like Yahoo/Yahoo Kids Pool.
Where do we draw the line? What is acceptable use, at a school, for the internet during free/afterschool/choice time? How safe are children's social sites? What are the ramifications for a school if students use these networks at school and do inappropriate things on them (or are exposed to inappropriate things).
As the library media specialist I get asked at least once a day by a student if they can get on to a site that requires a password--"it's harmless", "it's safe", "I am picking from a username so I'm not really logging on" are some of the arguements they give me, and that is just the 1st graders. Sites include Webkinz (which our filter seems to block surprisingly), Club Penguin, and Garbage Pail Kids. Older students want to log on to MySpace, Facebook, and game sites like Yahoo/Yahoo Kids Pool.
Where do we draw the line? What is acceptable use, at a school, for the internet during free/afterschool/choice time? How safe are children's social sites? What are the ramifications for a school if students use these networks at school and do inappropriate things on them (or are exposed to inappropriate things).
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)