I used to think that having students sitting in front of a computer chatting with others meant that students were 'disconnected' from real-world, face-to-face interactions. Well, yes, if students are sitting in front of a computer, they are not exactly face to face with another human being; however, with the number of social networks that students are engaged with (e.x. Facebook, MySpace, etc.), these interactions would hardly classify students as being disconnected. In fact, they are very connected--and these students are able to make connections with a much wider audience--the world! Now, I'm not saying the internet should replace human interactions; all I'm saying is that often times, students' behavior on the internet can be deemed as 'useless' or even 'robotic'. As always, the term 'balance' comes into play here. My blog will now take a bit of a turn here--because one idea flows into the next.
I've often heard my friends and colleagues discuss concerns over how little 'play' children are engaged in these days. I often hear things like, "When I was younger, my parents had to drag me inside for dinner because I was I was having so much fun outside." People are concerned that technology such as the TV/Video Games, Computers, and so on, are pulling kids away from more physical activities. As well, some may argue that kids' imaginations are being lost because of their constant 'need' or desire for quick, immediate results. Perhaps this is fueling the obesity epidemic in children?? What are your thoughts on the topic?
