As Palfrey
and Gasser very well claims, we live in a world where we have the feeling that
we know people because we follow them on social media like facebook or twitter.
We know what they look like and what they do. We know their taste in music and
know what movies they see. All this only because we have an online friendship.
They've
got another good point where an 8 year old girl makes her own movies and shares
them on YouTube accessible to all. What is appropriate to share with
"everyone" and what happens to the things that we share online and
later might regret?
The
children that we encounter in today’s schools are digital natives and that we
cannot change! The digital age provides innovative opportunities in
communications and multimodal presentations. It is important that we do not let
our fear of the digital world destroy the learning opportunities that are
present.
“How do we
take effective steps to protect our children, as well as the interests of
others, while allowing those same kids enough room to figure things out on
their own?” (Palfrey and Gasser; 2008)
Palfrey
and Gasser are saying that if we overcome our fear of the digital media and reflect
over the problems we think are following them, such as bullying, stalking and
Copyright violations then it actually is problems that we have been dealing
with for decades. To get a good ethic surrounding in the use of web 2.0 Palfrey
and Gasser highlights that it is primarily the inner core - the parents who
have responsibility, just as they would have it under "older" ethical
guidelines. The use of digital media is already introduced when kids are
attending school. I think that the parents have obligations to the way their
kids get along with other people - also digitally. The teacher can build a code
of conduct for the Internet use. Below are the copyright as well as it would be
if you read in a book, where you also cannot just copy the text or images
without ensuring that it is legal.
The
important thing to teach children must be how they present themselves on the
internet. We would have done the same thing about how they are acting in the
classroom and how specific behavior works. The thing is with the internet, that
you have to know how to use it safely. Think about what your pictures are
saying about you. Maybe a future boss will Google you and something
inappropriate will appear. You need to know the consequences of your online
image.
Bibliography
Palfrey, J. & Gasser, U. (2008) Born Digital:
Understanding The First Generation of Digital Natives New
York
ICT has taken a central role across the curriculum because we are living in a digital world that is constantly changing, and children need to be taught these skills in order to prepare for their future life.
ReplyDeleteTeachers must take a responsibility to teach children to be digitally literate and the Future Lab (2010:3) highlights the importance of this, stating that 'digital literacy gives young people the ability to take advantage of the wealth of new and emerging opportunities associated with digital technologies.
Teachers, parents and children all have a different level and range of skills in ICT meaning the responsibility to teach children should not be placed totally on one person. The Future Lab (2010) claims that teachers and parents need to take a joint responsibility to prepare children for the future digital world.
I agree that children are digital natives and the majority are extremely capable, however 'young people's confidence can be misleading' (The Future Lab, 2010:9) and both teachers and parents should be aware of this.
I really like Palfrey and Gassers ideology of 'digital natives' they are embracing the new generation and moving in the same direction as our world is.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading Sue Palmers, Toxic Childhood and maybe she does not embrace it all so much! Palmers (2006) views are not in favour of new media and technology and argues it can have a negative impact on children today. She argues that children's exposure to new media should be policed and even refers to it as an 'assault on childhood'.
Therefore I am glad that authors such as Palfrey and Gasser and Futurelab provide supportive advice on how to deal and thrive within our world today. Whilst teaching children to use new technology safely and respectfully so it can be used positively as a tool for learning and development.