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I am going to teach a child to ride a bike. Should I lecture for an hour about how to ride a bike? Or, should I bring a bike and have the child get on it and start riding it? Then, post on Facebook the child's successes! Finally, text his friends and relatives of his/her progress. Hello, there is no competition! A child will learn much better visually, kinesthetically, and using social media. Therefore, should we stick to lecture or should we include some social media, visuals and activities in our classrooms. Our students are more in tune with the latter. As educators, we must also be in tune with today's technology. Here are some examples of visual literacy in my classroom: My students get a text message reminder (Remind 101) of due dates. We use Poll everywhere for surveys and instant feedback; students create avatars to introduce themselves; and we all use texting for constant communication about assignments and/or projects. Our students demand that educators re-think the way they teach by incorporating social media. We need to listen to our students' needs and teach to meet their social media thirst.

Daniel, Interesting article! I like one of the the easiest ways to teach visual literacy is to introduce a photo about something that students are studying and place hyperlinks on different parts of the photo. The information on the hyperlink tells about that part of the photo. For example my students are introduced to a new patient managing system during the last part of their first year in our program. They have not had any prior knowledge of the program. The home page of the program is just a picture of a typical dental operatory, however when you click on certain areas of the home page it takes you to specific areas within the program. I start off by just having the students observe the home page and then hover over any area and information about the area pops up to inform them where this leads and what to expect in that particular area of the program. It really them to learn without actually going to that particular area of the program and trying to navigate back to where they started. After they understand where all the specific areas of the program are, they can easily and confidently begin learning each new areas in greater detail. Another way I have utilized visual literacy is when I thought high school, I would have students in my homeroom create a travel brochure of their lives. It could not contain any words just pictures such as favorite hobbies, greatest dream, greatest weakness, greatest strength, family, etc... Then their classmates would look at their brochures and see what they could find out about each other. It was always eye opening! Friends that thought they know each other probably found out the most. It was a way to break the ice for a new school year and make lasting bonds. Here is the best site to get free photos that you can use for any subject that you teach. http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp

Rene, I really like the idea of having students create an avatar to introduce themselves. When creating an avatar you can create who you want to be, who you think you are or who others see you as. Students would be free to express their inner selves and not just post a actual picture of themselves. My avatars are always young, very thin and of course very pretty!

Thanks for sharing the freefoto website. I am already using it for my online class! By the way, I am also guilty of dressing my avatar "pretty". Hey, at least I can be handsome sometimes!

Something that we do in our undergraduate EDTC classes is ask student to create an avatar so that we all know what everyone looks like as we post comments on the blog. Because of the online concept of the class, these avatars are the windows that represent who we are.

A very interesting article that brings some practical ideas of including available social media technology as part of literacy. Not teaching a course this semester I can only reflect on what I have done, which is limited, by including these examples in my class. The one course I used this concept was in a University Experience course in which the curriculum is to tell students how to be successful in college as well as what resources are on campus. To get students to explore the campus I created a scavenger hunt, placed the students in random teams of 4, and had them post pictures to my Twitter feed upon finding specific items/locations on campus. This was an activity performed during one class period and afterwards the students could more easily identify buildings, routes, and office locations by referring to the pictures or the other Twitter posts. To me it was a success and would use this again in an online course having certain activities requiring the student to take a picture and add it to a blog or an Instagram account to help show their progress or implementation of a technique in a classroom. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article Daniel and I have some new ideas for more integration in the classroom environment, great job!

Abel, I really like your idea about using photos of campus resources and using social media. I teach a similar course and I am going to steal your idea. Thanks!

Great article. In my opinion, I think our society is very visual so why not incorporate this type of learning. I've used the web 2.0 tool Glogster to create a collage with photos and other images. I think this would be a great way for students to learn about each other whether it concern their interests, hobbies, goals, or anything else they wish to share about their background. I also think this would be a nice alternative to the traditional white poster board. Pictures can also be great discussion pieces. Sharing photos about certain topics through social media like Twitter can generate many responses and opinions. Students could be asked to research photos regarding a certain topic such as something native to a particular country.

Abel, I think your scavenger hunt activity is excellent. It's a very creative and fun way for students to become familiar with the campus. Additionally, it seems like a good activity to help the students interact with each other in their teams and with the other students through Twitter. Ultimately, they are all working together to help build a great campus resource for themselves.

Amanda, I have never used Glogster but I did some research and it looks like it would be a good platform for another project I am working on. I know you can sign up for a free version but is there any limits to the free version? Does it let you create as much as you want or are there restrictions? I am eager to find out and see what I can do with it. Thanks for the information.

Abel, The old saying a picture is worth a thousand words is actually very true. I really like your scavenger hunt using the pictures.If i can incorporate it somewhere I will. For my niece I did something similar in the mall. We set up "unique scenarios" that they had to take a picture of and then send them to us. Of course the first team to complete the whole thing won. We got some of the most hilarious photos. We printed them all and made a quick scrapbook for each individual and my niece for a memento of the event. I still have some of her friends tell me it was the one of the best times they ever had at a birthday party.

Lu, I used the free version but with the premium you do have access to more resources and class management options. However, there is still so many capabilities with the free version. You can add photos, embed YouTube videos, rich graphics, and you also have access to some creative templates. I think it's a great tool to use for information sharing amongst students on a very creative platform.

Rene, I think the idea of creating avatars is a great idea particularly in the online world. I've incorporated the use of Voki for some of the asynchronous trainings I've created. I like the idea that they can provide a little bit of personalization to a training and possibly contribute to more of an instructor presence.

I believe social media has its advantages and disadvantages. If used responsibly, there is no telling how much a teacher (or anyone) can accomplish using the wealth of tools at our disposal. I once had a teacher that had us respond to her Twitter feed in order to get our assignments. An interesting idea that forced us to get acquainted with a new techology (at the time). Now that being said, if used irresponsibly, they can be equally powerful, but usually not in the positive ways we initially intended. Unfortunately, that same teacher must have mistakenly used her Twitter feed for personal use by mistake, as the entire class was privvy to an online argument with an ex-boyfriend. Overall, I think the use of social media can be a valuable additional tool in our professional toolbox. However, as with most things, we simply need to be sure that we use them responsibly to maximize their benefits.

Lu, I think it's a great and wonderful idea of how you have your students do a travel brochure. I agree how pictures say more than simple words. The students get to express themselves and its interesting of students to learn from each other. I will definitely incorporate this great idea with my daughter when she grows up with all her friends. I am sure they will be fascinated with the idea just like I was. Yes, I am sure it was an ice breaker to start of the year. Thanks for sharing !

Daniel, The article was very interesting ! I agree with Abel in creating a scavenger hunt and find that idea to be awesome to incorporate with the students and how in doing this they were able to find departments, classes, routes and etc... I myself have created an online training for my employees, to where they can understand and guide themselves through each of the departments in central receiving. This helps them have a better understanding of each department and allows them to know each department thoroughly for inventory purposes. I have attached a map of all the departments in the university as well so it can guide them upon inventory. My employees have found it very helpful and continue to utilize it to guide them.

Daniel- Nice article. I think that social media is a great way of meeting the needs of our technology savvy students. By using social media within the classroom and beyond, we are basically speaking our student's languages. Millennials grew up with these modern technologies, and so they know technology and social media is the way that they communicate. Virtual literacy appeals to their senses, because they are keen to that type of educational medium as it is. Many of my students get impatient if our internet is running low, so I see how their can be some disadvantages to social media because we become a society of "we want it now." Impatience as we know is not a virtue. Therefore, I think as Sean pointed out there can be some disadvantages to this as well. However, I also think there is a fine line between social media being used. I currently use YouTube to display some of my educational videos, and some of my students have subscribed to my channel- before I even knew they could. What I didn't like about that is that they got to see the comments I typed on videos I had seen...that's before I even knew they could do that. So yes, technology is a great things- but it must also be used with a lot of mindfulness. Here is an additional link to the topic you have posed: http://laureljs.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/social-media-as-an-effective-teaching-and-learning-tool/ It's a simple word press blog from an educator giving their two cents on virtual literacy and social media in a social media type of way enjoy.

Rene- Great point. I agree with your comment, that a child will learn much better "visually, kinesthetically and using social media." The 21st Century child is a child of technology. Social media is second nature to them- it's the way they learn. I think that lecturing is still very important, but as educators we need to incorporate technology within the classroom environment or we are bound to loose these student's attention. At our school we are judges on our PDAS by whether we use technology in the classroom to relay our knowledge to our students. Gone are the days of complacency. We must change and adapt to accommodate the tech savvy students that we now serve.

I find it very interesting as she states that with her system of teaching students have no excuse not to do their homework. Burgess is quoted saying "They know that I know that they have everything they need [to do their work]." I see this at home with my 10 year old, she has a laptop, desktop, iPad, iPhone and a father that knows it all. She has all the tools needed to conduct research, communicate, calculate, and so forth. Thus, as Burgess says, she has not excuse not to do her work.

Great article about educators using technology in the classroom. These technologies are impacting how educators teach and learners learn. There should be much more resources (funding) allotted to public schools for initiatives that promise to change the way we teach. There is no doubt that these tools have impacted and will continue to impact schools and the learners. The new media is making the subject matter more exciting and engaging. However, there are some challenges. First, not enough funding is allocated for technology. Second, we still have educators who are apathetic about using any kind of technology in the classroom. Third, there still is a digital divide in some of our public schools. On one side we have parents who can and will provide any tool for their children to succeed. On the other hand, we still have many parents that by no choice of their own, lack the resources to provide their children the most up to date tools to make learning a positive experience.

Rene, you touch on a point that I experienced when my daughter stared school this year. We went to her school on meet the teacher day. The teacher went over the rules and what was expected of every child, she then told us that the school was starting a program in which student would be allowed to bring a device and use in class. She indicated that it could be an iPhone, iPad, laptop and so forth. One parent asked what if their child did not have any of those devices, what they were going to do during that time. It was a very award moment but that parent had a legitimate concern. For some reason we assume that every child owns one of these devices but that is not the case, we need to take these type of issues into consideration when trying to implement a program such as bring your own device.

Martin, Your earlier post regarding how your daughter has all the tools to do her homework made me think back to some of the criticisms from others that do not believe in incorporating technology in the learning environment. I remember reading one comment on an article where someone said that "googling something is not learning". In certain aspects, that statement is true, but I definitely think technology can be used to promote critical thinking and higher level thinking. For example, students could use google to conduct research but could then collaborate with their peers by interpreting and analyzing the research on wikis or Google Drive. They could also use tools such as Glogster or VoiceThread in an effort to foster their creative skills.

Jaime I have used Wordpress in two of my previous classes. I found it to be a very good and educational tool to use. I enjoyed learning about Wordpress and using it in both of my classes. I found out it easy and effective to use. The communication with my professors using Wordpress was great. I like the fact that its convenient and free.

Justin, I agree with Laura Esquivel. The use of a cell phone in the classroom is very helpful for students to utilize and obtain information or do any kind of research. However, another educational tool that is now being used a lot is the IPAD or the Android tablet. The children in school enjoy using these tools because they are very helpful to them. The students are able to download educational applications that can help them in what they are studying and etc... My daughter and I use our IPADs frequently for school and have found it to be very helpful.

Martin, In regards to the point that Rene made...my daughter's school is doing the same. They can bring their own device as well but if they don't the can borrow one from the school. I was hesitant at first as well. Then I started seeing the things that they do with all this technology I was amazed. I so grateful that they are showing them at a young age. Sometimes my daughter helps me with certain applications.

Justin, This is a great article showing how the use of web 2.0 technologies are both easy to use and integrate in the classroom. I especially liked the way the authors referenced the use of Edmodo for project submissions in electronic format. I believe that all paper projects and assignments should be submitted in electronic format to allow for faster submission to professors, reduction in costly utilization of paper, and to be current with the way technology is used in the "real world". I really like Edmodo as I have previously interviewed a high school instructor that has implemented after hours use of Edmodo as a bonus help/tutoring service to students with astonishing results. Of the total number of students, more than 80% were participating with at least one question or response to another student once a week while 75% were participating at least two times per week. Additionally, students would help answer other student questions freeing up the instructor to answer more difficult questions or help lead discourse in the subject area. Again, really good article and a great way to kick us off on the Diigo discussion boards!

Here are some great ways to simplify the integration of social media web 2.0 tools in the classroom.

Having students borrow the technology is a great idea, until the device is lost, stolen, or damaged. I have heard complaints from the McAllen ISD that they have to pay large amounts of money of else the district doesn't let the student graduate or enroll in school.

Justin, great article. I like the flipped room concept. I agree with the teacher that lower level thinking skills should be used at home. Why? because I want the students to use their higher level thinking skills in the classroom. If they have questions and start to steer the wrong way with their higher level thinking skills. I can redirect and get them on the correct path again. Students need to be able to go home and rest. They should not have to be brain dead after a home work assignment and that is why some students hate school

I agree Felipe! the problem I foresee is the fact that the current generation (millennial' s) are so saturated with technology that I do see pockets of what I call Evaders of technology on the raise. One example I can give is during our department's job fair event last month I was surprised to discover there were a few students that did not have a Facebook account nor felt an attraction for digital technologies. Unlike, most of the peers that have immersed themselves in technology and probably use on a daily bases technology to communicate with others if this becomes a trend who will then train the super-digital natives?

While I agree with you Felipe, I do see Jaime's point. Some people are just not as attracted to technology as others. Maybe it is to daunting to them or they just can't afford to keep up with the trends or maybe some people just don't want to be found on the internet (for example: in a Google search). In the end, our society is a technological one and like it or not that is the shift that is in the process. Eventually, everyone will have to jump on the bandwagon and learning how to use technology.

Fabulous article Felipe. I especially like this: "The digital natives of today are the ones who will be pressured to take all of the present technological wildness and make it make sense for the next generation. They are the… super-digital natives who will flip this world upside-down with what they will have to offer." I still remember when I used to type research papers using a typewriter (oh, boy, I must be really old and outdated!). Well, not really. Today, I am reaping the benefits of the generation before me. Today's generation is reaping the benefits and pitfalls of my generation, and so it goes. My generation was also very creative with the resources we had at the time. What I am trying to say is that every generation will have challenges and opportunities. We must learn to proliferate with the changes. There will always be technological gaps between generations. It is the responsibility of each generation to find the potentials for the technology available at that time. Furthermore, those in educating the next generation must use the technology to support educational endeavors and integrate it in the classroom.

Jaime, I think you are right about the overwhelming amount of technology applications out there. The acceptance and reluctance to those technologies seem to be as much personality driven, as generational. I believe what we can do as educators is to help guide students through the process of evaluating a need and selecting an appropriate technology solution. I think the biggest motivator encouraging the use of one App or another is satisfying their initial need to socialize. We need to lead them to the productivity Apps that will help them academically and as they enter the workforce. I think technology use picks up exponentially when you can demonstrate to students that the technology skills they acquire through daily life application is transferable to meeting their career goals.

Daniel, I believe that those we are unable to reach in time to help them onto the fast moving train of technology evolution will be at a huge disadvantage. The reality is it is only going to go faster. One of the things I advocate is for leveling the playing field by making technology available in schools and providing teachers the support for implementing the technology, whether it be training or time to participate in Personal Learning Communities (PLC). Without our help, students may wake up some day and figure out they missed the train.

Rene, I understand where you are coming from and it seems like just yesterday. I was one of those that was ill prepared for college and when the requirement for a typed research paper emerged, I quickly found alternate means of accomplishing the task. In my mind, I never expected to have to do much typing or research once I entered the Army. Well that did not play out as expected and as I work on my third graduate degree, I still struggle. I almost missed the education train, had there not been a teacher that said it was never to late and worked with me to get me onboard. We do have the wisdom on our years that that our students do not. We have to find a way to motivate the next generation to embrace technology, look ahead critically and seize every opportunity the future may bring.

Educating the Current Generation

Daniel, It is true that whether people like it or not, technology is becoming a huge part of our society and will be here to stay. I know there are still people out there that are not comfortable using technology, have fears in using it, or just don't like it. One of my friends refuses to switch to a smartphone and has stuck with her basic cell phone for years. I've heard that pretty soon only smartphones will be available. I think this will likely happen with other avenues where you will need to have a Facebook account or access to a certain app in order to accomplish some basic tasks.

Rene, While I am in the same generation as you and your typewriter, sometimes i feel like we give this generation a little too much credit for being tech-savvy. "It is clear from recent research that there is significant variation in the ways in which young people use technology, suggesting that rather than being a homogenous generation, there is a diversity of interests, motivations and needs. So while some young people might be regarded as 'digital natives', these are by no means characteristics shared by all young people simply because of their exposure to digital technologies." This study done in 2010 suggests that, "The idea that technology changes our lives profoundly is so ubiquitous in public discourse that it has become almost cliché. Both within and without the academy claims abound that technology is changing more rapidly than at any other time in human history. Often such claims convey a sense of urgency, pressing us to keep up with changes and raising concerns that some in our societies are being left behind." Beyond the Digital Natives' Debate http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2330&context=edupapers

Daniel, Hello! Technology is evolving quickly and is constantly changing. However, people who do not get in the band wagon might miss it. I know there is still several people who refuse to learn about technology but the truth is, it's here to stay. They need to adapt and evolve with technology if not they are going to stay behind regretting that they did. In schools its important for teachers to get the necessary trainings so they can teach their students as well as learn themselves. It is very important for out children to learn about what technology has to offer and keep up with all the changes because it is the Future! Jose Davila

It is always fun to show my college students some of the technology they used a few years ago and now have become something of the past--ex: floppy disk. The constant change of technology makes it a necessity for educators to continue to grow in the field of Educational technology. Although it is difficult to keep up it is a necessity.

A scary and exciting article and, honestly, something I had never even considered. What would the super-digital native look like? Wow, that's truly something to ponder and have deep thoughts about. However, I believe that we should focus on how the upcoming generation is being prepared with technology in the classroom or for educational purposes. We have seen many issues with tablet integration in schools (http://www.edudemic.com/5-critical-mistakes-schools-ipads-and-correct-them/) and we may be learning from these mistakes but where is the supporting literature and research on these issues? We need to be more proactive in the documentation and reporting of solutions to these problems and not be so critical and simply pointing out the problems but instead working towards solving the greater issues. We are on the precipice of change and should choose if we want to be agents of change or of purpose. Which will you be.

Jose, What types of things do you do in your classroom to show the progression of technology? I think this sort of lesson is a necessity to show them how fast our world is changing.

Daniel,. I am not a teacher, but I know that in todays world it is very important to introduce technology to our kids. I agree with with you Daniel the world is changing and technology is the future in education.

It is not the students that have issues with technology, it the teachers that struggle the most with learning new applications. Technology is constant and therefore the learning process for both students and teacher should also be constant.

Laura, This article provides great information about the uses of Web2.0 tools in the classroom. I especially enjoyed reading about users creating products in virtual spaces right after I finished accessing the Zondle site which provides an easy platform for individuals to create a quiz in the form of a game. This type of tool engages both students and teachers and puts a twist on the traditional quiz which, in my opinion, reduces the quiz taking pressure. The other Web 2.0 tool that really caught my attention is ActiveExpression which allows students to text in responses to instructor questions. The use of this application integrates both a Web 2.0 technology as well as the technology the student brings to the class giving them an opportunity to use their phones in a constructive way and reducing the temptation to sneak it out or misuse. Overall a great article, thanks for sharing!

Abel, I think the ActiveExpression tool would be a great way for an instructor to quickly check for overall understanding from their students. Based on the responses, the instructor can gain a better insight of any items for which they need to provide more clarification. I also view it as a useful tool for those students who may be initially shy about responding to a question for fear of being wrong. This type of tool allows for students to respond somewhat anonymously but at the same time remain engaged with the class.

This article is on a research of how teachers began to use Web 2.0 tools in their classrooms.

I have research the meaning of Web 2.0 some have described it as a term that described the "second generation" of the internet. Basically what that definition means is that the online learners are actively participating in websites rather than passively reading of content. The term Web 2.0 is most likely built upon user-generated content. An example of user-generated content is the use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms developing videos, writing and pictures which is focus of a web-page or a website. The term Web 2.0 tools are those tools that help end users become active participants, allowing creating, collaborating, editing and sharing of content. These tools include social networks, blogs, wikis, forums, video tools, photo-sharing tools and more. Another thing to remember about Web 2.0 Tools is that they are free. The reality is when school budgets are being cut and teachers have to do more with less Web 2.0 tools sounds like a good investment for teacher to utilize in the classroom.

This article is on a research of how teachers began to use Web 2.0 tools in their classrooms.

Excellent article on how technology may be used as a tool to engage the learner. I still feel that the tools are just as effective as the educator who decides to use them. Unfortunately, very few educators are using these tools. I am in the business of educating future educators. A good number of our faculty use these, or similar, resources. However, there is still a number who refuse to use anything that they are not familiar with. They feel that their methods are just as effective as technlogy tools. I tend to disagree. I also think that this is a deservice to our future educators. Today's students are immersed in this technology. Those of us who are blessed with helping future educators should take the initiative to integrate these tools in our own classroom. We should be in the forefront of modeling these tools and setting an example for future educators. As a matter of fact, at our next faculty development, I will mention this article and encourage all faculty to become more knowledgable about Web 2.0 tools.

Justin, Great article. I also read what Rene had to say and agree with him and with your article on how we need to use these type of tools to engage the learner. The only problem is that we as educators are not using these tools as much as possible. I do disagree with Rene on how a good number of the faculty tend to use these resources. When I did my student teaching two years ago, I do not recall all these resources and the school district providing such resources as Web 2.0. The only resources the teachers had were an issued labtop for email use and to build their lesson plans. I would have love to have these resources and have been able to attempt to use them with my classes.

Every conference and every technology article you find new Web 2.0 tools that are new, just to keep us is an experience. Great article

For those of us who have been in education for a long time (30 years for me), we know the value of different techniques that promote engagement. I have been using this concept in different ways since I started teaching in 1984. Based on that, I feel that gamification has an enormous potential to increase student engagement. Using gamification, students feel that they are not really learning but playing. However, even by "playing" we learn. I like the idea of using this concept as "homework to encourage informal learning. Indeed, the corporate world may also gain by using gamification.

Sean, I'm currently not an educator but I absolutely feel that gamification can be be beneficial in many ways in education. The part of the article that resonated with me was how it could be used to help introverts participate. As an introvert myself, I've found myself participating more in classes with the use of technology, than I probably would in a face-to-face format. I think gamification can encourage introverts and the shyer students to participate in activities as it can allow them to "let loose" so to speak and engage themselves in the learning process.

I do not have a current classroom but do have some ideas of how to include technology and gaming to serve some of the various instructional goals for previous courses. One game I would include is a variant of the "murder mystery" presented by Dr. Morgan but tailor the clues and overall game to online instruction with a sort of scavenger hunt online to find all the various resources of a learning management system in various free products with the assistance of clues. I agree with many of my classmates that the available tools should be used to help students learn and be involved in the process making the learning experience much more meaningful.

I love the idea of teaching class or using gamification for work. I think in one of the simplest forms of gamification is just turning on the computer and using a computer. For some its a game or effort just to show up. Since im history with the social studies composite major, IT would be fun to gamify history lessons. That way students will stop saying the history is boring. No future in history.

I found myself fascinated by the concept of gamification. The more I read about it, the more I can see it being applied to not only the classroom, but also to the corporate audience. By increasing engagement and retention of learning material, I see it as a win-win situation. Do you see it as a viable solution to your classroom? Why or why not? What ways do you currently use aspects of gamification in your professional life?

Great article! My wife and I are constantly using technology and notice that our 2 year old likes using her Leap Pad however, she is not addicted to it... she will put it down and play with her other toys. We are not against our kids watching tv. They are both in daycare and spend most of their day interacting and playing with other children. In the evening we allow them to watch the Disney channel and to our surprise they are playing while they are watching... not glued to the screen. I think finding a nice balance with the use of technology is important.

I believe that the question posted this week should be based on the child's development. Piaget has some guidelines (albeit, outdated) that may be consulted. Every child, based on nurture and nature, develops differently. The one-size-fits all mentality of how much technology a child needs (as posted in another class' post) cannot be part of the way we handle the use of technology. As a society, we have done very well in promoting the benefits of technology for children and youth. We should not take a step backwards by limiting some activities on the future generation. Information is expanding tremendously. We need to continuously update and expand our knowledge base. Technology is an excellent way to develop that knowledge base and to meet the expectations of today's complex society. Limiting the use of technology in the early years will limit a person's ability to function effectively in the later years. Nonetheless, parents (as Daniel mentions) and teachers must manage the use of technology for our children and find a balance for that unique child.

Much like Abel and Daniel I have two young children and I sometimes do question myself about how much time I let them spend on their mini iPads and iPhones. I will admit I am guilty of asking them to use their devices while on long trips but then again I do not travel too often. We have a similar topic in my other class and I indicated that we need to keep a balance between the amount of time spent using any device and the amount of time doing so sort of physical activity. My daughters recently joined a kick ball team, this type of activity allows them to spend more time exercising and socializing with other children other than through a device or in school. Again, we must maintain a fine line and make sure that we are keeping a close eye on what our children are learning and experiencing with electronic devices.

Chris, My question is are we really raising tech-savvy kids or does the developer just make the device so user-friendly that appears our kids really are tech-savvy? We assume that they are tech-savvy when possibly they are device-savvy. Does it make a difference in the outcome of their development? Just questions I thought of when reading the article. As for the screen time, there really are not a lot of studies that have been conducted about this. All the studies have been done on TV and video games. But it stands to reason that if adults spends too much in front of a screen a variety of physical ailments occur, then a toddler would have the same and possibly a great deal more due to their developing brain. The article below addresses some of the problems with too much screen time for young ones. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-01-22/health/bs-hs-ask-the-expert-screens-20140122_1_screen-time-ipad-app-toddlers

Daniel, I experience the same thing with my nieces and the television. Sometimes, they just want to have it on the channel but aren't glued to the screen. They're busy doing their own activities or playing with each other. I guess they are already learning to multi-task. I think there needs to be a good balance between technology and other activities. They each have their own benefits.

Chris, In response to your question about how much time is needed for true balance, I don't know if there is one definite answer. I think this could vary with child to child. However, I do think it is so important for children to be exposed to different activities outside of the tablet or other technology related activities. I think the parents will be the ultimate judge about how much time to dedicate to each activity. I think it will certainly be a learning experience on both ends.

Martin, I think it may be hard to define an exact amount of time but I think as a parent you're taking good initiative in exposing your daughters to other activities. I think there are so many benefits of physical activities that they won't be able to gain from technology no matter how far advanced it becomes. Although I think technology is here to stay and we need to prepare our children to use it effectively, I think we definitely need to expose them to other non-technology related activities.