Children and Technology

Ashraf Islam Okanagan College English 100-003 6 February 2013 Children and Technology Since the early Twenty First Century, there has been vast promotional material in applied science, intermiticularly in the field of computers that be developing fast-paced than even the blinking of our eyes. Simultaneously, technology has get down a vital break in of our daily lives. Most of our activities argon the part and product of technology commencement from the path we receive our pertlys through with(predicate) various websites and digital brand-newspapers, paying bills online, sending and receiving email, and finding research information each(prenominal) on the Internet.More than calciferol million people communicate and keep in touch with friends through online social networking (Hatch). As adults became increasingly more than dependent and absorbed by technology, it is likely that the children of immediately relieve oneself become enthusiastic users as well. Laptops and spite phones are being developed for children as young as five-spot to ten years old. Since the minds of the children are complex and insensitive, there is indeed dread among many adults about how these technologies muckle bring about changes in childrens social life.As Hutchby and Ellis say both childhood and technology to be accorded an uncomplicated status, each treated as having a stable and self-evident earthly connect as there is a straightforward impact of one upon any(prenominal) other(1). Specifically, childrens eng boardment with internet social sites and violent bet ons has generated considerable concern and additionally mass media observations and discussion. There is an obvious argument that childrens photograph to these technologies will help them to cope with emerging challenges that they will no head encounter in their careers.While on the other hand, it is argued that children who are using technology are becoming more indolent, unappreciative and more prone to health related problem. Nonetheless, access to certain technology under proper counseling is a critical component for todays children non moreover to bring in a better grasp of modern education thereby preparing them for the future challenge further in any case to improve their social maturation and health. In the absence of proper proficient knowledge, Children will not arrest the skills that will essentially help them to compete in todays world that is progressively more relying on new technological inventions.There set about been several studies on the tyrannical impact that technology has on children in the field of education. It has been observed that introducing SMART board technology in the classroom can act as catalyst to increase students motivation and to conjure communication between teachers and students. According to the result of a 40-year retrospective arena done by Concordia University in Canada, introducing technology in the class does move over a positive impact on younger minds.Newer and more school applications of technology produce even greater positive impact iPads, for instance, alter portable creativity and make education fun, which is always a swell sign (Techvibe). professor Richard Schmid, chairman of the education department at Concordia said Where technology does have a positive impact is when it actively engages students, when its utilise as a communication tool, when its used for things like simulations or spiriteds that enable students to actively manipulate the environment(Techvibes).According to Dr. Joseph J. Kerski, who is anEducation Industry Curriculum discipline Manager on the Education Team in Denver, Colorado, USA (Esri), murder of the Geographic Information System (GIS) software in over 1,000 tall schools across the nation has significantly increased students motivation, communication and learning, especially on the part of visual and non-traditional learners. Technology prepares studen ts at a young age for the workforce. This skill is becoming more and more of a vital in our technically travel society.According to the US Department of Commerce, sixty percent of jobs today crave technological skills, and this is expected to increase to ninety percent in the next fifty years (Hatch). Todays parents are more concerned about the emerging social networking sites that are occupying the minds of most of the children of this generation. Children acquiring expose to uncensored materials and sensitive issues on the internet and cases like online bulling and torture which can cause devastated situation like committing suicide are likely to create such fear around them.However, new research in this regard has discovered that technology can actually act as a new medium for children to increase and maintain a bully social connection among their relatives and friends. It can provide a realistic broadcast to shape their identity by demonstrating their knowledge and creativ ity. Sites like Facebook, Tweeter, MySpace, YouTube and Skype have become childrens new virtual park where they can make new friends, play games with each other and create new pages or videos to appropriate their ideas and perception.In general, these social sites have become a way for people of all ages to connect and keep in touch with people they already know, sooner of forming bonds with new people. This medium is likewise helping them to involuntarily up their technological abilities by exposing them to various skills like communication, typing speed, hand and eye coordination, base software knowledge and gathering information for research. Over use of these mediums can always be monitored and controlled by parents if they are concern about their children.Larry D. Rosen, PhD, Professor of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, who did a research on the impact of social networking sites on children, said Parents are encouraged to mensurate their childs activities on social networking sites, and discuss removing inappropriate study or connections to people who appear problematic. Parents also need to pay direction to the online trends and the latest technologies websites and applications children are using (APA).Its undeniable that these social media have changed the landscape of the socializing process especially among the young people and uses of these are likely to increase more in coming years. Exergaming technologies like Kinect and Nintando Wii that require players to perform tangible activities in order to play a game have become popular in recent years not only among the children but also adults. Unlike traditional video games, which are more sedentary based, this new gaming technology requires lot of physical movement to win.Well known of these games are Wii Sports, in which children and adults can play virtual games, such as tennis and baseball, and Just Dance for the Kinnect. A game highly geared toward exercise is Wi i Fit Plus, which includes activities for yoga, aerobics, and balance improvement it also allows users to chart their progress and see how well they are improving (Hatch). It also helps parents to spend some time with their children which are also an essential part of their social development.Even though exergames should not replace real life exercising, this new gaming technology is proven to be a new way to motivate children to do exercise more frequently producing a positive effects on health and fitness (FITDAY). With growing concern about children suffering from obesities, it is noteworthy that exergaming can significantly help by ruin off some calories resulting in weight loss thereby improving body coordination and movements.Technology has become an integral part of our lives and society and it is likely to be there with us for the rest our lives. It will be ever evolving and advanced and keeping up and staying will be the challenge. Since everything in this world is some wa y or the other connected to technologies, considering technology a deterrent for todays children is impractical notion. Indeed, technologies can have negative impacts but good parenting and proper guidance by teachers can help the children to gain the benefits out of the technologies around them.Since the children of this generation will be valuable option for the future, proper use of technologies and getting the maximum benefits out these to prepare them for the future should be an important priority for all of us. Works Cited Social Networkings Good and Bad Impacts on Kids American mental Association. American Psychological Association, 6 August. 2011. web. 15 Feb 2013. The Benefits of Exergaming for Kids FITDAY. InternetBrands, n. d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. The Esri Education Team Esri. Esri Headquarters,n. d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. Hatch, Kristina E.. find out the Effects of Technology on Children (2011). Senior Honors Projects. Paper 260. http//digitalcommons. uri. edu/srhonorspro g/260 Knowlton Thomas. Does Technology check a Positive Overall Effect on Classroom culture? Canadian Study Says Yes Techvibe. Techvibes Media Inc. , 23 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. Mizen Phil ,Ian Hutchby,Jo Moran-Ellis,Christopher John Pole,Angela J. Bolton, ed(s). Children, Technology, and conclusion The Impacts of Technologies in Childrens Everyday Lives The Future of Childhood Series (illustrated). London Routledge, 2001. Web