The use of media and technology continues to grow among school-age children. According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children between the ages of 8–10 spend almost 5.5 hours a day consuming media, while children ages 11–14 spend over 8.5 hours consuming media each day. These developments have inevitably raised questions about how media use affects children’s development and whether or not limits should be placed on the time children spend consuming media. In this Discussion, you will consider what place technology and media should assume in the lives of children. Reflect on the following:
What role do you think technology/media should play in the lives of school-age children? Specifically:
How and to what extent should technology/media be used for educational purposes? For example, should teachers integrate technology as much as possible in their lessons? Should parents encourage children to study using educational software and the Internet? Or are more traditional learning methods preferable?
How and to what extent should technology/media be used for recreational purposes? For example, are video games, television, and online virtual play spaces acceptable forms of entertainment for children? Or do you think children spend too much of their free time consuming media?
How and to what extent should technology/media be used for social purposes? For example, what are your thoughts regarding the rise of child-oriented social networking sites, such as Club Penguin? Is this a safe and effective way to expose kids to social networking at an early age? Or is it unnecessary, even harmful?
With these thoughts in mind, follow the instructions below to post your response to this Discussion topic.
The Assignment:
Post a descriiption of your thoughts on the role that technology and media should play in the lives of school-age children. Explain how and to what extent you believe technology and/or media should be used for educational, recreational, and social purposes, and why.
