My heart sinks when I see uncritical thinking in commentaries from Internet safety advocates about the media young people love – thinking that defaults (and contributes to a society-level default) to fear that new media's harmful and young users are either potential victims or up to no good. Take videogames, for example. We know that… "Videogame play is pervasive throughout our society," as … [Read more...] about The videogame discourse: Default to open-mindedness!
digital literacy
When kids are skilled navigators of our networked world
We all – young people and everybody who works with them – are learning what that looks like: skilled navigation of a networked world. We're also working out what the skills are, how to teach them and what kind of environment (home, school and media environment) supports that learning. As a society, we've only just begun working the problem. The first 15 or so years of the public discussion … [Read more...] about When kids are skilled navigators of our networked world
Cybersecurity where kids are concerned
Today (October 1) marks the start of the US's National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It's an increasingly important kind of awareness for everybody to have, because, in this very social media environment, security – of our data, identity and property – is just as "crowd-sourced" as media is now. And we all know that kids are doing as much, if not more, sharing and producing as everybody else. So … [Read more...] about Cybersecurity where kids are concerned
Addendum: What about CIPA?
US educators may wonder if schools can adopt the model I'm proposing above and still be compliant with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Here's my answer: If you're asking "What about CIPA?", you're probably a school administrator or district official in the US, and it's a good question. In order for US schools (and libraries) to receive federal "e-rate" discounts for Internet … [Read more...] about Addendum: What about CIPA?
For families: ‘Digital detox’ vs connecting mindfully
It takes a lot more than "digital sabbaths" to become grounded, but it sounds like the creators of Camp Grounded in northern California get that. I think. As described by writer Matt Haber in the New York Times, the three days were as gluten-free as they were tech-free and packed with activities aimed at human connection, if not so much reflection. "Designed less to be a spiritual journey than a … [Read more...] about For families: ‘Digital detox’ vs connecting mindfully