This Ted talk, Revaluate, Rethink, Release really made me reflect on the responsibility that parents, educators, and society have to teach students about the need for balance, and the purpose in their technology use. Jesse Miller discusses three key points about how to raise a rising generation that know how and when to use technology responsibly.
- Reevaluate how we immerse in technology. We need to teach them how to be media literate- what is the purpose of the use of technology? He says, “Our children grow and connect in a world where their daily activities are documented as if newsworthy and necessary”…for some reason it has to go online. There’s this belief that, “It all has to be documented and put online for followers and likes.”
- Rethink our awareness of use- they have the ability to instantly share with the world. They have a world stage that they can share anything on and it is vital to teach them about how it affects their reputation and future. They need to be aware of the content they share. “We fail to recognize that the biggest predator they face is their own actions.”
- Release -“Knowing when to record an event and knowing when to put the phone down” is a skill that needs to be developed. This is a conversation about balance. Students need to find comfort in the release of technology out of their hand (putting it down). “If our kids can learn to put the phone down, then they will capture the world using the most powerful tool they have- their minds.” Students put the phone down to play the sport they love. What if we were able to harness that understanding of focus to mitigate distractions in the learning environment?
This message really resonated with me because, as we’ve been discussing in class, technology in the classroom can enhance the learning environment in a variety of ways; however, if the use of technology is out of balance, and used to “pacify” students then we are missing the point and the purpose of its use. He spoke about how the internet is supposed to help us make the world a better place and the cell phone should be turned outward, not inward all the time. If we educate students about :
-balance (when and where to use technology, having the fortitude to put it down sometimes)
-purpose of use (what is the purpose of me going on my phone right now? what is the purpose of me sharing this post or photo?)
-awareness of digital footprint (be aware of what you share, know the impact it will have)
He helped me understand that in today’s world, digital literacy is just as important as reading, mathematics, and science. We can’t expect students to understand these behaviours and skills if we do not teach and model them.
