Chapters 5-8 contain a wealth of knowledge when it comes the life we lead as Educators. Net Gens and The Family is something I personally was dealing with just last night. In Chapter 8, there are some statements that hard to confront and deal with, such as the Old Hierarchy of the family (traditionalist) vs the Net Gens new democracy. As over scheduled parents and over scheduled kids, children have forgotten how to even play out doors any more due to the fact of fear and being lethargic. So where is the new freedom found? Yes, indoors.
Jennifer worked late last night and Jack is amazed by Mario Bros as Austin and I sit on the couch playing together, working together, laughing together and watching Jack hit the controllers so we lose a turn. Being a Anti-gaming advocate, I reminded myself that I could not have created this experience for both my boys, at the same moment in time, TOGETHER
2nd Comment: My parents were not Helicopter parents, Are you one? Me...I am more like the one you see in Gatlinburg that only has one passenger seat and can be hauled away in a pickup truck.
Making sure your kids are successful, yes...don't do it for them.
Enjoy.
funny you should mention the gaming, Grant is obsessed with playing wii and knows how to work it so that his score is like 500 to 0. He works up a sweat and gets all excited and into it, but when he actually goes to the playing field, he doesn't work as hard. When I asked him why, he commented that wii was so much easier. Technology is great, and I'm glad that they've developed the component so that he is actually moving while playing the game. However, I would much prefer he be outside in the fresh air putting all his effort into actual games.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is and continues to outsource so many technology jobs to other countries. When you talk to a customer service rep. about your computer, software, etc. you are likely talking to someone in India...How has their children been educated as a prerequisite for getting these hi-tech positions in a foreign country speaking a foreign language?
ReplyDeleteIn the past, I too was an anti-gaming advocate. This past year I have somewhat converted and have even gone so far as to try and come up with some gaming ideas to be used in counseling. According to the internet, writing a computer game is not very difficult (ha, ha; we'll see). Rather than seeing the games as a negative, we much start to realize the positives and the possibilities of these games. Let's face it, they are here and here to stay.
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