BLOGGING 202

Evolving uses and expectations when it comes to technology and learning for young students or children is a topic that can change from one instance to another. The value and the impact that technology can have on a child’s development both socially and mentally  can lead to possible connections throughout their early years of their lives.  As I stated before, my son will probably be teaching me different practices and innovations by the time he graduates from 6th grade. Technology will offer him opportunities and connections to the real world that we did not have while we were growing up. At this present time, he plays card games, draws and colors pictures works on his sight words and even works on some addition and subtraction problems. For his fifth birthday a month ago, he received a Webkinz. At first I was extremely cautious to allow him to get online on a sight that I wasn’t familiar with, but after checking it out, we found that it teaches him many valuable lessons. Even more it allows him to interact with his cousins that live 3 hours away. Cooper, his Webkinz, helps teach him responsibility beyond his years, as well as it allows link technology to a topic that he is more familiar with. I can only imagine next year when he goes to kindergarten for the first time that he will have a class project dealing with the Webkinz website or something relative to that situation. We need to remember and realize that technology isn’t going to go away and we need to adapt to it; and if it deals with kids having fun on the computer while playing with a stuffed animal, then that is where technology is taking us. We need to remember they could always be doing something worse.  If you become a victim on the internet you also must remember that you were a participant.  So as a parent or a teacher take your time to become involved and familiar with what you child is doing online.  You never know it may save you a headache or two down the road.  Be active!!!