Better Schools
Britain has an opportunity to reinvent how it teaches information technology
A recent editorial in the Guardian newspaper wrote that Britain is in danger of producing a generation that doesn’t know how Google works. As such, the editorial states that this is a prime opportunity to overhaul the education system and bring information technology education into the 21st century.
Is North America any better? Maybe a little. Our kids know to how to download an app or a song and we’ve raised them to think of Google as a verb as much as a company, but are we providing them with the right tools to invent the next Google? In the current and old system, kids learn how to use specific programs, but what does that do when the essential programs completely change every few years? Schools should instead be teaching information systems. Read more...
the social family
How kids consume media today
The current issue of Ad Week is devoted to kids. It covers things like how kids influence the buying decisions of the family, how companies are doubling their efforts to stay hip and relevant with the kids and of course, how kids are participating in and consuming media.
Among its findings were that most kids are using smartphones, even if for just a few minutes a day. (Do you ever just hand your toddler your iPhone set to a photo album or something?) Also, kids with college-educated parents watch less TV. Read more...
the social family
Our parenting expert tells you what you need to know
There were some great discussions at our Social Media Week panel that featured Alyson Schafer, teacher Royan Lee and blogger Brad Moon. Our panelists didn’t always agree on everything, but brought different experiences with teaching kids how to work in the digital space.
Schafer thinks that of all the topics discussed at the panel, the most important were:
1. Deciding when and how to get your kid on Facebook
2. What the deal with gaming, is it good for your kid? Harmful to your kid?
3. And with everything going increasingly mobile, how do parents control what their kids consume media-wise?
What Schafer, Lee and Moon came up with was:
1. Re: Facebook — If you’re nervous about your kid getting on the social network, start off slow with a family profile. With your family profile, friend only aunts, uncles and cousins. Read more...
the social family
Knowing the power of social media to shape one’s image
A large majority of 11-year-olds, 86 percent of them actually, are using social media to build their personal brands, say the Ambition AXA Awards.
According to Simply Zesty,
“The concept of a personal brand is something that adults are just beginning to get their heads around, but for the younger generation it is clearly something that shapes their use of social media from the very start, as they become aware of the power of image-creation and how you can control social technologies to affect the way in which you are perceived.”
No kidding! So not only are kids using Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to stay in touch with friends and family, they’re acutely aware of how they’re presenting themselves online. Read more...
News and Culture Five
What we’re reading today:
1. Gay-straight alliances were seen as too political for Catholic schools, but they’ve given the OK to “Respecting Differences” clubs. If it gets the job done, we’re on board. That said, we can’t even imagine how tough it must be for a teenager to come out, so to not even acknowledge their gay identity when they’ve have the guts to do so seems pretty crummy. Make it better, Catholic board!
2. Colder temps and scary weather sometimes force kids to stay inside for recess; how can we make indoor recess more active?
3. Shame as punishment: does it work? Does it cross the line?
4. Hipster Disney Princesses. What do you think? Accurate? Ariel looks like the kind of hipster we avoid at all costs, but Belle looks like she’d work in our building. Actually, we think Hipster Mulan does work in our building. Read more...
Queer as Moms
Meri Perra blogs about the challenges she and her partner face in trying to raise their girls with feminist values
This must be what it feels like to be stuck in a time loop. Last week, two more chapters were added to the saga of Facebook versus the breastfeeding moms.
In a story that got less of attention this side of the pond, the social networking site apologized to a U.K. breastfeeding supply company, Express Yourself Mums, for shutting down their page because of
a “policy violation”. The violation: pictures of children play-breastfeeding dolls.
Like many parents, Express Yourself Mums co-owner Sharon Blackstone couldn’t resist posting a picture of her daughter, Maya, to Facebook. After giving her doll a naming ceremony, Maya announced her baby was hungry. Acting just like her mom, Maya began to “breastfeed” her doll. What’s a mom who runs a breastfeeding supply company to do other than take out her phone, snap a picture and post it to Facebook? It was like Maya was doing the marketing for her mom’s company. Read more...
News and Culture Five
What we’re reading today:
1. Parenting experts say that parents of teens need to stop talking when their kid is talking back.
2. Doctors say babies should give up soothers after they’re a year old. If you need a little help getting your kid to kick their pacifier habit, Elmo is more than ready to help out.
3. Facebook is only supposed to be available to people 13-years-old and up, but there’s a whole lot of preteens on the social networking site — why’d their parents allow it?
4. And don’t forget, this weekend Daylight Savings time ends — clocks go back on Sunday morning. Experts say this can really mess with your kids’ schedule.
5. And did anyone see Jimmy Kimmel’s challege to parents on Monday? He wanted parents to tell their kids that they ate all their candy… and videotape it and put it on Youtube. Read more...
