Post 2

Read the Key Findings section of the Kaiser Family Foundation report, Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Reflect on the findings. What are the implications of the findings for your students, your classroom, and the way you teach?

The findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation report are somewhat surprising. I was shocked to see the increase in media use in the age groups described; but after reflecting on the knowledge I have about the students I work with daily I was a little less surprised. This report illustrates how our society is becoming more technology driven. Students are choosing to spend more time on internet devices and watching television. Socializing is becoming web-based as well. Youth today are spending less time in face-to-face interaction and more time on social networking sites. The constant stimulation provided by these new technologies are also (in my opinion) changing the classroom setting. Students need more stimulation to stay engaged. Finally, I think this increase in media use is negatively impacting our students' behavior. Student's activity on different media devices is often uncensored and children are often exposed to inappropriate information.
In my opinion, this report does not accurately represent the community I work in. I agree that students who spend more time engaging in media use do have lower grades and worse behavior. In the past year I have had students tell me they stay up until 4:00 a.m. watching inappropriate movies or T.V. shows. These are also the students who struggle behaviorally and academically. Unfortunately, I think media is being used as a babysitter for many children. My students' media use was very often uncensored and even encouraged by the adults in their lives. The Kaiser Family Foundation report indicates that the time youth spend on computers has increased. While I agree with this statement in our population as a whole, I do not see this in the community I work in. Most of my students do not have access to the internet at home. The article indicated an increase in use of mobile devices. I have seen this in the community I work in. I experienced second graders in my classroom who had cell phones. I know that cell phones in this community are also used for safety. Many students were given cell phones to have while walking home from school in case of an emergency.
To conclude, I think this article contains a lot of useful information, but the findings may not be applicable to all communities. I think we need to analyze this information and use it to inform our instruction and engage our students.