I came across an interesting article in my twitter feed this morning. The NY Times had a story about the growing digital divide in the US.
The digital divide used to mean that poor kids didn't have access to the same technology as their wealthier peers. While that gap has been narrowed, it does still exist. With the cost of technology coming down all the time, one can assume that gap may one day be nonexistent.
The 21st century digital divide isn't about access to technology, it's about how much time is being wasted using technology. The story chronicles how kids of all socioeconomic classes are wasting time every day watching shows, playing video games, and hanging out on facebook. Without going back to check the specific numbers, kids whose parents didn't graduate college spend 11.5 hours a day, A DAY!, using technology to entertain themselves, while kids whose parents did graduate from college only, ONLY!, spend 10 hours a day.
Pardon me while I hide my kids' ipods.
Now don't get me wrong. Computers and such are great. But as a senior researcher at Microsoft admits in the article, we have failed to account for how computers are actually used. Kids aren't spending 11.5 hours a day honing their math and reading skills. They're simulating war and butchering the English language on social media, and other fun stuff of course.
The use of technology in education is pervasive and unquestioned. School districts spend a ton of money on technology, and while I don't have a problem with it per se, I do sometimes wonder if all that money is being well spent. The ways things are going, it won't be long before every kid gets a lap top on the first day of school. Technology, the savior of the American public school system. What do people think kids are going to do with these free lap tops? Their homework? That's cute.
Not gonna happen my friends.
Really interesting post and article. I'm not around kids so I can't comment on that aspect, but I find it interesting how people around my age use/abuse technology. Yes, I have a laptop and desktop computer (for work, but still, two) and Internet access and an iPod I listen to at home, work, and in the car. I have a blog and check email 3+ times a day and have online friends that I've never met in person - so clearly I have a technology issue/relationship.
ReplyDeleteBut I have a basic phone with only calling and texting capabilities, and most people think that's ridiculous. I can't get online when I'm on the go or stay tuned in to every little thing, as most people do. Unfortunately, a lot of people even seem to text even when they're with others, and that's something that really bothers me. I try to not use my phone at all when I'm with people, but not many do that anymore. I know there are tons of rants out there about people who bypass in-person contact for online, but I've really been noticing it the past year or so.
Ok, that got a little off-topic and rant-y, but it just opened up a lot of thoughts that have been swimming in my mind lately.
I love it when comments get off topic and rant-y.
DeleteI think the use of technology has all of us swimming with thoughts. Mine are often contradictory. I log a ton of screen time myself, so criticizing the overuse of technology would be hypocritical. But when I read an article like this, it does make me stop and think. We all know there's probably no turning back as far as the pervasiveness of our devices, but it is good to think what the effects might be.
I was reading some similar findings the other day too with the researchers wondering what the long term consequences will be.
ReplyDeleteI've worked extensively with tertiary students in Australia as well as with 20 somethings who are working. There is a view, especially amongst less computer literate older people, that this age group is wonderfully computer savvy. Many aren't, and they're very embarrassed at their lack of concrete skills. Some are ashamed to ask for help especially when they have no idea how to edit a word document and attach it to an email. So much for the computer revolution!
You make a good point Sue. It's assumed that this generation, the digital natives, if you will, are technology experts. Sure, they can download and listen to music, play games, prolifically post on facebook, that's how they spend the 11.5 hours a day they're using technology. But do they have the skills that they actually need in our modern, technology-driven world? For a lot of these kids, I'd say no.
DeleteI'm not sure if I agree that video games are a waste of time. Some of the smartest people I know play video games. The puzzles and challenges you face require that you sharpen your hand/eye coordination and that you figure things out on the fly. If you don't, you get called a failure by those with whom you are playing with. When I played very competitive World of Warcraft, it was quite stressful and we called out the bad players or flat out kicked them from the raid or guild. Winning was all that mattered. And math was a huge part of it. I was one of the people that checked math constantly to make sure a boss fight was doable in present gear and to point out players who had poor damage per second so that they could be singled out, counseled, and if they didn't improve, essentially thrown out. I never played with losers.
ReplyDeleteGreat point about video games. There is certainly a lot of thinking involved. And it is entirely possible that the skills cultivated by playing video games will be essential tools for many jobs in the future. I'm not totally convinced of this, but it is a valid argument. My kids play a ton of games on their ipods, so it would be hypocritical of me to complain about video games too much. I do think moderation is important, especially for younger kids, and maybe that's what I was reacting to in the article, the lack of moderation for kids. Something parents and society should probably be thinking about.
DeleteMy school is going 1-to-1 with laptops for each kid this fall. I'm sure many of them will be used for non-education things. During the trial period this school year, there were kids using the devices for downloading music and for taking sexual pictures to share with boys they were interested in.
ReplyDeleteWith some kids who are good at video games (historical related war games), most of the kids don't even realize they are based on true events until they learn about the time period in school.
That is truly insane. Lukas gets almost NO digital time every day. But he does get a lot of Lego time. Crazy stats there.
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