Scary! That is what I have to say about the use of technology by the Millennium Generation. Yes, they are good at it. In fact some would argue that they are brilliant. But can you be brilliant and stupid at the same time? Can I get another overwhelming, YES?! It seems strange that minds so easily navigating the newest trends in technology are not able to decipher an action that could potentially hurt, ridicule or harm them. It’s possible that their actions could put them in grave danger either to themselves (even though they can’t even think about it at the time) or danger from others.
So what is being done to protect our children since it seems that are unable to do it themselves? I compared my school district’s plan to the 2009 Michigan Educational Technology Standards for Students and found them to be compatible if not identical in theory. They both want the same standards for our children...that they be able to use the wonderful world of the internet to open and expand their minds, but with safety and smarts so they will not be harmed.
Sounds great….so let the technology waterfall begin. Not so fast I say. My daughter has been taught about these dangers from the second grade according to our district’s technology plan. If that is the case, explain this situation to me. In fifth grade she came home and wanted an email address. I refused and explained the dangers of the internet. The next day, I received an email from her teacher explaining that my daughter really wanted an email address and that she could use it to chat with her fellow students about their homework questions. My response was to tell her to pick up the phone and call them. It would be faster and more direct than waiting for an email response that might never come.
I felt the teacher had overstepped her boundaries in emailing me, but since she was a teacher and had my child’s best interests at heart, I emailed back. Are there any standards that we need to follow for her safety in setting up her email address as she wanted to use her name in the address? The teacher emailed back and said that using her name would not be the best idea. This should have been addressed as part of internet safety at school.
So we set up an email address and the next thing she wanted was to post her picture. She did that on her own and I happened by and told her that I didn’t think posting a picture of her was a good idea and another explanation. She replied that all her friends were posting their pictures. Here we go again! She reluctantly changed it to a picture of her favorite animal.
Then the email from “Brian” (no last name) who wanted to know her phone number and address. She offhandedly told me that she was surprised Brian would want to know this information through email as he never talks to her at school. I looked into the situation and told her that this “Brian” was not from her school and that she should not answer. I told her to ask him at school tomorrow if he sent her an email and she did and he had not.
I hope this has taught her some important lessons about the use of technology and email, but I would have thought that by the standards listed in our district’s policy this would have been clear to her already. It was not. I recently went to a talk given by Jean Twenge, professor and author of “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement.” She has done studies researching this generation and the self-esteem boosting, everyone is a winner mentality that defines them. She identified that social-networking is like the “Treasure Island” for this generation where the goal is to have more friends, be the most provocative, post sexier pics and be self promoting. It’s like a playground for them to add to their inflated sense of self and extends the “this can’t happen to me mentality.” I walked away from the talk, enlightened and scared to death.
Text Source:
Twenge, J. M. and Campbell, W. K. (2009). The Narcissism Epidemic:
Living in the Age of Entitlement. New York. Simon & Schuster
Living in the Age of Entitlement. New York. Simon & Schuster
Picture Source:
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv358/sophialilian/SophiaSublime/SIDEE-1.jpg
My two daughters (10 & 8) recently discovered YouTube. They like to listen to the Chipmunks sing songs. I don't have a problem with that, however, I do have a problem with some of the songs that are labled as chipmunk songs. You never know what you are gonna get when you click on that next link. It would be interesting to see how off topic you can get on YouTube by simply clicking the suggested video links.
ReplyDeleteDaily students want me to play a YouTube link in class. I have a couple links that I use in math class, but I will not play a link in class unless I have previewed it first. The students don't understand why I need to preview the video first. It is the decision making aspect that young minds have trouble with. I understand the repercussions of what might happen if something controversial comes up on YouTube. Young minds fail to see all of the implications of a simple click on a YouTube video.
I think if I have learned anything in this assignment its this. There is the National Educational Technology Plan, Michigan Educational Technology Plan and the Michigan Educational Technology Standards for Students. If you wanted to comply with them, you need about 4-5 hours to read them and a team of analysts to understand them!
ReplyDeleteYou read that the technology "standards" are supposed to be introduced in second grade, yet your daughter was unaware of them. I think that indicates they aren't being introduced as required. The reason why....teachers don't have time to read them, have the same difficulty understanding them, and until they are clarified in a simple document, will overlook them. Teachers are expected to be responsible for so many things yet they still only have 6-7 hours in the day to do them.
Someone will eventually understand that simplicity is the policy. We don't need loft plans and documents. We need simplistic guidance and direction. Until then all of our children will come home with the same dilemma that your daughter did. Bottom line, we have to show our kids like you did, Federal/State/Local Technology plans had the right idea but aren't living up to their intended purpose.