Many folks, including some parents, believe that simply providing children with access to digital technology will automatically enhance learning.
THESE days, the "soccer mom" has long been replaced by the "techno mom" who buys a Leapfrog electronic toy for her baby; lap-surfs with her toddler; has a Wii, Xbox and PlayStation for the kids; puts the spare TV in the child's bedroom; sets her child down for hours at a time to use addictive social media like Webkinz and Club Penguin; and buys a laptop for her preteen so she won't have to share her own computer.
In many homes, the computer is now primarily an entertainment device, for downloading music, watching videos, playing games and social networking.
While some people may assume that the computer is a research tool, used for exploring the world, keeping up with current events and learning new things, in many families, people lack the knowledge and skills to use it for these purposes.
Parents' behavior and attitudes toward technology are a critical factor in predicting a child's experience with various media. Research shows that students who have at least one parent with a graduate degree are significantly more likely to create content, online or off-line, than others.
Says sociologist Eszter Hargittai of Northwestern University, "While it may be that digital media are leveling the playing field when it comes to exposure to content, engaging in creative pursuits remains unequally distributed by social background."
It seems that digital- and media-literacy education is more important than ever, which is good news for children and teachers at the Russell Byers Charter School, who will participate in the Powerful Voices for Kids program, a digital- and media-literacy initiative in Philadelphia, now in its second year.
