Digital Media: The Bright Side

Digital Media: The Bright Side

            I found that the documentary touched on many facets of the digital nation.  The fact that our young people spend fifty plus hours in front of some kind of digital media per week is mind-blowing.  The anticipation of our children always reaching for their phone or computer instead of going outside to do a physical activity was unheard of when I was younger.  Many of our youth and adults alike are, “Hooked on Tronics.” (Dr. Gary Small, UCLA)  I argue that digital media can be helpful in our school settings if proper etiquette is taught and utilized.  Many classrooms in Korea have started teaching their students in second grade the proper uses for internet in and out of school.  Major corporations have utilized digital media to aid them in every day operations.

            My step-daughter spends more time texting or chatting on Facebook than she does playing outside.  In my childhood, we had video games but we were made to go outside and play to run off nervous energy, as my mother put it.  Many children suffer from obesity because they sit playing video games and snacking instead of engaging in physical activities like organized sports or even just playing on the playground.  The only time my sister and I spent hours playing video games was when we were trying to beat a level or the whole game.  It gave us bonding time.  Most children lose that bonding time because they would rather do their own thing that involves their electronic devices.  When Dr. Gary Small of UCLA stated that we are “Hooked on Tronics,” it made me laugh because it is so true.  So many individuals, both children and adults, use digital media to keep in touch with distant relatives or friends.  Some would argue that the use of digital media such as texting allows children to be more direct when holding conversations without the fear of reaction from the other person engaged in the conversation.  Of course digital media has seemingly taken over our world, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 

            In the event that children are properly taught how to use the internet, it can be a valuable learning tool.   In Korea, students are learning the proper use of internet around the same time they are taught to read.  Korean second graders are using computers to gain valuable knowledge by allowing them to learn proper etiquette online.  Many schools in the United States use computers in their schools because it allows them access to valuable research tools via the internet.  The usage of the internet and computers within schools has been said to keep the students engaged more than if they attended standard lecture style classes.  Children are encouraged in some cases to partake in webcasts with students from other countries as part of a cooperative learning activity.  If the internet was not available in our schools such activities would not be possible.  In the documentary it showed that some schools distribute a laptop to each student within the school to encourage keeping up with their homework resulting in better grades. 

            Despite most companies limiting the content of internet usage in the office, they use virtual reality to conduct meetings. In January 2010, IBM’s Global Innovation Outlook team utilized a role playing software called Second Life to conduct meetings between national and international locations.  They chose to use this program to cut costs by not having to fly to meetings.  Each person who is supposed to attend customizes an avatar and then joins in on the conference event within the world.  The website offers voice recognition so that members can communicate verbally within the meeting.  It is equally interesting for each member when they create their avatars to see where their mind is going when they choose their features.  Most of the people portrayed in the scene for IBM have never met in person and are in different countries.  I believe that this software and others of its nature are going to become more widely used as a means to save companies money. 

            Generally speaking digital media isn’t a bad as many make it out to be.  If we did not have access to the internet, we would not be able to access valuable research information.  Children having access to digital media can be significant because it can be used for learning new information.  If children are taught the proper etiquette and usage for the internet in and out of school then the likelihood of abuse online is lessened.  It is my opinion that schools using technology such as computers to help their students become more engaged in learning is very effective for their educational development.  Many corporations utilize digital media on a daily basis.  Corporations are more likely to hold virtual meetings than in person because it cuts travel costs significantly. 

WORKS CITED

IBM dives into Second Life

Meeting, collaborating, and brainstorming in a virtual world

Shruti Gandhi, Technology Innovation Manager, IBM

January 19, 2010

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/library/os-social-secondlife/index.html

Is Generation Y too Hooked on ‘Tronics?

By Daniel Sieburg, posted February 11, 2009 at 1:58pm

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501464_162-4626122.html