Many of us in CSU-Pueblo's Mass Communications Department & Center for New Media are probably tired of the Twitter topic following our panel discussion at today's conference of the Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Social Imagery, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this Twitter tidbit.
Some second graders in Maine are using Twitter to communicate with pen-pals and to learn about grammar, spelling, math, online security and digital citizenship.
Do you think these students are too young to be exposed to Twitter -- or is it never too early to start educating children on social (and other) uses of technology?
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33 comments:
That's amazing! It's funny how they call it pen pals when that term is much older and refers to writing notes and letters with a... pen! I think that because they have a teacher watching what they do and monitoring their actions that it is a wonderful idea. They're learning how to properly use the internet and the tools they have available to them under guidance from an adult. They aren't too young, as long as they have supervision, which they do.
-Samantha Acar
I think this is a great idea for second graders to learn how to properly use the internet. I don't think that all learning should be done on the internet because it will cause a lack of social skills for the children, but children do need to learn how to use the internet for the future.
I think this is a great idea. With how technology is becoming more and more prominent in our society, I think that now it is really never too early to start learning about how to use the Internet, because it is going to be such a big part of communication for these kids as they progress.
I think that is a great idea. It is giving the second-graders opportunities to learn things in new ways. It keeps them interested in the subjects they are learning about. It is never too early to get them used to reading, writing, and social communication.
~Kami Dahlberg
I think that because of how easily accessible the internet is now days, it is a great idea for kids of any age to learn to use it correctly and with adult supervision. As long as the skills they are learning are appropriate for their age or grade, it is never to early for a student to learn something about technology and its positive uses. Though I do agree that younger students should learn using person to person interaction rather than learning through a computer that can't give the same kind of feedback another student, teacher, parent, or friend can.
I think it is a great idea for the young to be using the technology. To explore society is always a good idea. The younger you are the easier it is to pick up the technology. As far as being to young if the children are learning and using the computer it is fine with me and it would have helped me if I had the technology.
~Jon Peltier
Wow that is crazy!!!! I think it is a good for students as young as second grade to be on the web under the guidance of an adult, like a teacher and adult. But not as on a social network. At this age the student need to be playing outside and develop friendships in person, not over the computer and web. But pen pal are fun, but it is more fun in handwriting and letters not over the web. And writing needs to be learn not on the computer at the age of second age..but later on.
-Jessica Robbe
I think that this "twitter" thing is a good idea being that the technology world is expanding and growing by so much. Of course there shouldn't be nothing but learning on the "twitter", and a variety of other things as Tayler stated with the social skills. But overall, I agree with the teaching skills being used.
I don't think it is such a bad idea to introduce kids to the internet at a young age. They are growing up in a technological world, so it is good for them to learn their bearings when it comes to computers. They do need to be supervised so that they don't see some of the other things that the internet has to offer.
-Zach Releford
I believe that it is completely appropriate for second graders, or anyone for that matter to use Twitter. It is a harmless interactive website, you do not find many of those anymore. Plus, computer skills are a must have in today's world, so why not start learning young??
AMANDA OLDS
I think this is super crazy! It doesn't seem to amaze me though that each year the new school year starts and they have some new way to teach kids but it always seems to be through media. As the generations continue kids as young as like 3 will be able to get on a computer and detect a virus. I don't think second grade is to young to learn all this, its actually the reality or our society, if their teachers don't teach them, than who will, parents are kind of falling off.
I think the idea of Twitter being used by second graders is a good idea. It promotes thinking outside the box and understanding technology more. Some statistics say that today the corporate world is using more and more technology in their everyday use for their corporation. The sooner kids can be exposed to technology the better jprepared they will be for the future. In my opinion, media is what launched the idea of Twitter to such great lengths. As soon as media found jout about Twitter it was all over the internet, news, television shows, and the radio. This boosted the popularity of Twitter and is a success that will hopefully last.
Cassi Brunson
I think it is good for second graders to be media literate. It will serve them well in the future. I dont understand the opposition, overexpsure to the internet or what. It seems kind of like someone arguing against letting second graders become familiar with twitter would just be inhibiting them. I dont how to twitter and if a second grader does know how to twitter than more power to them.
Well, I think that this is a great idea for young children to do. This will teach them skills that they can apply for the rest of their lives. Becoming technologically inclined is difficult for some people over the age of 50, and for children in 2nd grade to be on a computer learning skills is phenomenal. I do not think that they are too young to be accessing the internet. I have a younger brother who is ten years old in 4th grade and started accessing the internet around the second grade as well. He also knows the what to do and what not to do while accessing the internet. The methods being taught through twitter are a great way to teach students and I think it will help them out in the long run. In class we talk about the internet and new technologies in chapter 2 of Media & Society. The present is much more different than what teaching methods used to be, which is why this may seem controversial to people of age. I truly feel that people need to get with the times and accept the future for what it is.
I myself have just started using twitter and I applaud anyone that can communicate succesfully on that website. The second graders are utlizing their internet know-how and I think that is a great thing. Especially, by the time they are my age, they will be more computer savvy than most adults. The students are also being monitored so that is good news for those creeps out there in cyberspace. Overall, I think it is a great idea and may allow kids to branch out and find common interests with others they would have never known via the internet.
I personally think its a great idea as long as it pertains to educating the youth with todays technology.Whether we like it or not, it is indeed the digital age, and the sooner the youth knows about this age of the internet, the sooner they can adapt and be aware of privacy and security issues.
To think that this is an issue we are discussing almost is disconscerning in regards to the topic or reason why they were twittering. Its just an easier and faster way to communicate with your pen-pal. Now,being exposed to certain types of twitter profiles other then their pen pals are probably inappropriate for second graders.Instead of fighting twitter, its going to be apart of there culture within a few years anyway.As is myspace today, as was when cable first came about. Instead of expecting a change from twitter or myspace and other forms of communication in this digital age, we should look at the parents to adapt and change there focus.Also,take a more initiative approach to monitoring and finding ways to educate themselves as well as their children with privacy and security issues that they feel are and aren't suitable.
Second graders using Twitter in my eyes is not necessarily a bad thing. I am most sure that they are being held under a watchful eye, and are learning a lot from the technology we young adults use today. As the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, dont fix it". If these children are learning by using Twitter, let them learn away.
VIctoria Watson
The internet is an absolute mosaic of information that is literally at your fingertips. Whether you have a second grade or Doctoral education, you can find anything with ease. However, remember that the internet also lacks censorship, children are very vulnerable to the advertisements and smut seen all over the internet. As open and strong of an advocate I am for early education, it is not worth the risk of someone luring a child off the internet, chatting with a stranger, or perhaps exposure to some obscene material or visuals. Its a dangerous world out in cyber space......
-Victoria A. Watson
I think it is a good idea to teach kids at a young age how to use correct grammar, and the security of the internet. On the other hand, twitter is almost equivalent to texting. These kids will grow up with a lack of social skills and will rely on technology to communicate with others.
Technology is being exposed to children earlier and earlier. There are many good consequences, such as the pen pal example, but they are also exposed to a lot of unfiltered content on sites such as twitter
I don't think its ever too young for kids to start learning technologies that will be useful and very widely used later on in their life. As long as they are being taught things that are appropriate for there age and level of maturity.
I do not think it is a bad thing that second graders are using twitter. I think it is great that at such a young age students can get the help the need for school from a program like twitter. On the other hand, I think the exposure of twitter to second grader will ad to the problem of kids, teens, etc., using these websites for social entertainment and becoming addicted to the internet life.
The idea of teaching the students how to use the internet is a great idea. Especially in a world where social networking is everything. But the problem I think is that these students are only second graders. That seems a little rediculous to have second graders using twitter. Overall though the idea behind this is great, maybe it could be used for fith graders who understand what is going.
I think this is a great idea! Its never to early to teach our youth how to get involved with the internet and show them how to safely use this. I think this a great way to teach our children safety when it comes to being social online and it teaches them writing and spelling skills, along with teaching them how to use computers more considering computers are our future. As long as their being supervised I think this is a great idea and concept and should be spread around. Considering having a pinpal is an almost standard teaching lesson in the lower grades. Doing it virtually only makes it easier and better.
-Manuel Crespin-
I actually really like this idea! Even though the term pen pals should be written with a pen! The students are really young to be exposed to this kind of technology but they are being supervised. They are being taught like the proper way to use this kind of technology and they are being shown a safe way of using it.
Twitter as other technology communications are suppose to connect people and help where translation can get lost. They are not using Twitter as celebrity connection but as a learning experience. I think it is important to teach children what adults are using in their lives because it helps them learn and inspire imagination. It does this by showing them what is out there and maybe makes them want to pursue a dream of making the next big things. This use of Twitter is not to harm the kids but connect them to others their age and help them create a shared learning experience.
Its never to early for kids to be involved with anything that can teach them something. I'm not necessarily sure that twitter is the way for them to go though. I personally think twitter is the worst site on the net. All twitter is about is people updating there status. A good example is how Ashton Kutcher posts that he is going to the store to buy salad mix. Are people really that obsessed with famous people that they want to know everything they are doing in a day? Going back to topic, its never to early for kids to learn new things but i don't think twitter is the way to go.
I think that it is a safe alternative to things like facebook and myspace. Twitter is very plain and text based rather than applications, videos, and pictures. This is safe because it lets the child expose themselves to online communication without the unneeded extras.
I think it is never too early to learn about how to use any form of technology. If they must use Twitter than I feel like that is perfectly fine. I’d rather have them learn about it in school than go home and experiment behind everyone’s backs. I also feel that Twitter is not as bad as Facebook or MySpace because it is more like an open blogging site than a communicating and meeting new people site. When I think of pen pals I think of snail-mail, but times have changed! I also think that it is important for kids to learn how to use computer since their whole life is going to be based around them. The younger they learn the more they will know when they need to use them.
I remember when I was second grade and the extent of technology I had was my Gameboy. The fact that these 2nd graders are using Twitter is fascinating! teaching tthem how to use technology at such a young age can be nothing but beneficial to their future. they are also teaching them grammer and spelling so it does have some educational prowess among it.
Twitter for the Twits? I like it. Whatever you think the negative contexts are for exposing the children to Twitter you cannot deny the benifits of exposing them to new technologies at such a young age. Bill Gates took advantage of the computers he was around as a child and as such he has given the world so many advancements in that very technology. If the teachers of these children can at the same time teach personal responsibility then I see no reason for concern in this matter.
This is an interesting approach to teaching and connecting kids. Let's get those cell phones and keyboards into their sticky little fingers instead of crayons and pencils. This is just another look into the future where eventually communication will be only through cyberspace. At least until telepathy becomes manufacturable. It's not a huge mystery why so many students don't know everyday and average skills for writing. Way to go public school system.
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