Kids and Electronics

[iLander]

I think kids today have a general lack of imagination.

If the toy talks for you, walks around, tells a story, etc., what's left to imagine?

I remember when I was a kid, we used to bounce the dolls up and down to indicate that they were the ones talking and then make up long dialogues with them. This is a lot of expository speaking, improvisation, plot development, etc. Lots of imagination required.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

MC,
Last year, DS1 was required to do Rocket Math online. The scores were noted and he earned points for his class. This year, it seems the class is no longer doing this. For other work, we do the online research together. I know this is going to sound crazy but whenever we are driving along someplace in the car, I give out pop quizes on simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It seems to work though because DS has been consistently scoring As in math for the last 2 years.

Thanks. Okay. We had a different program that taught the math facts and provided the same framework of having the children memorize all the basics so they wouldn't be wasting time trying to remember multiplication while trying to do algebra. Then there are two additional programs which progressed from the basics all the way into geometry, which both boys have used, but my older son is beyond that and I may have to look on some homeschooling websites for ideas.

That is great that your son is doing good in math. It's so nice when you find little tricks to bring learning into daily life!

MC, do you remember what the programs are? Just curious?

Yes, IXL and mathletics.

Are there any programs you would recommend? I'm not sure what to do with my 6th grader and would love for him to try other math sites that teachers think are worth spending time using. Thanks.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I think kids today have a general lack of imagination.

If the toy talks for you, walks around, tells a story, etc., what's left to imagine?

I remember when I was a kid, we used to bounce the dolls up and down to indicate that they were the ones talking and then make up long dialogues with them. This is a lot of expository speaking, improvisation, plot development, etc. Lots of imagination required.

I think the bolded part is unfair to this generation or future generations. I mean, I'm sure our parents' generation said the same thing about us, and their parents' generation about them. But I think I agree with the spirit of your words, which I think is that this generation's imagination is not being cultivated through the use of intellectual toys, etc. And I can't help but agree with that.

I remember when I was little, I had all of these model horses, and the Polly Pockets (before they made them big and weird) and I'd sit for hours making up stories about them. When I wasn't doing that, I was reading - I was one of the kids who read at the dinner table, read at the grocery store as my mom shopped, etc.

I absolutely see the value of educational apps and programs on computers/iPads/iPhones. As a teacher, I think some of the technology is great for students. But the biggest problem I'm having with students is this feeling that they can't survive without their phone. What do they do when it's taken away? How will they survive for an hour or hour and half without it? Without texting, facebook, tumblr, etc.? And that dependency worries me! (Oh and I get annoyed when the students get annoyed that they don't have the RIGHT to listen to music as they do classwork or tests or whatever - it's a privilege in the classroom, not a right!).