Pros and
Cons of digital devices in the hands of young students
by on June 20, 2012
Walsh (2012)
asked, “Are the benefits outweighing the downsides of potentially excessive use
of these devices by younger and younger children?” There seems to be much concern over the
excessive use of digital devices by our young kids. Every child has several digital devices and
they seem to have taken over parents needing a nanny. According to Walsh (2012), “Digital devices
are all the rage among young people today, across all ages.” (Walsh, 2012)
Walsh (2012)
questions what has happened to the activities children used to engage in back
in the day. Climbing trees, shooting
marbles, playing tag and hop scotch are nowhere to be found. According to Walsh (2012), “…are these still
quintessential experiences for many of today’s youth or are they too glued to
their small screens to partake in these types of activities?” When I look at my grandchildren, who are
young adults, their heads are bent and fingers clicking faster than a bee on
their cell phones. When my
great-grandchildren are in my presence, they are clicking on a phone tablet or
a cell phone. It’s incredible to what them.
Even my students cannot stay in class for 50 minutes without texting
their friends. (Walsh, 2012)
The pros and
cons to using these technological/digital devices are that with the smartphone
helps you to always know where your child is; all students need computers for
homework assignments; research and music; and don’t forget socializing –
Facebook or Twitter. However, the cons
are devastating because there are health risk with students turning volume too
high while listening to music. Eardrums
could be badly damaged while listening to music that is too loud. (Walsh, 2012)
According to Walsh (2012), “…technology opens up an amazing
world of learning and productivity to today’s young students …are clearly
dangers and legitimate concerns surrounding the use of these tools…” Since these tools are here to stay, Walsh
advises us to monitor how our students use them as well as educate them on how
to use them wisely. (Walsh, 2012)
As a tech teacher, I see students who are clearly very tech savvy as young as pre-kindergarten. It is amazing the information and knowledge that they have using a device. However, on the playground, these same students often have a difficult time playing as a group. They simply are not used to playing group games unless organized by an adult in PE class or in team sports on the weekend. Kids have little to no practice playing a game of kick ball on their own since most kids don't do this in their own backyards anymore. Social interaction is definitely taking a toll on our children/students and this has me very concerned.
ReplyDeleteIn your post one of the health risks from using digital devices is hearing damage from turning the volume up too much. Just yesterday I was supervising detention and a student was working on a computer watching a Discovery Ed video. I could hear everything but he had his headphones on. I went over to him to tell him his headphones must have become accidentally unplugged, but they weren't! I put the headphones on and my ears wanted to bleed! I made him turn it down immediately.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it will take a full generation or about 20-30 more years before we find out the majority and the significance of these health risks associated with using digital devices. I am betting on them being more severe than we already think they are. I think we have already seen the risks and the consequences of digital devices on social skills and attitudes. I remind students daily that it is a bad idea to ignore instruction to play on Twitter, Snapshot, Instagram, etc...
ReplyDelete