4 ms·

Before anything else, try asking yourself a slightly different question: If you were given when you were a kid a laptop or tablet (and if internet existed at t

by jaclaz 9y ago

Before anything else, try asking yourself a slightly different question: If you were given when you were a kid a laptop or tablet (and if internet existed at the time) would you have used it to study or to look around for (choose whatever fits better) music, movies, lolcats, funny videos, maybe some p0rn and the like?

JoshTriplett 9y ago
Obvious answer: "yes, both, several of the above". Doesn't have to be an either-or.
eat_veggies 9y ago
As a relatively younger human I can say that I fit the bill and the answer is "both." I watch videos, play video games, browse memes, and listen to music but at the same time I also program and work on lots of side projects. It's possible to do both but I guess it is tempting to just consume media with these shiny devices--it's way too easy to waste an entire afternoon playing Overwatch or getting lost on Reddit.
tomek_zemla 9y ago
OP here... Exactly. My concern is that 11, 12, 13 year olds need a lot of editorial guidance, mentoring and teachers who are truly fluent with technology to do more useful activities and less useless or downright harmful on their devices. 18 year old can (usually) figure out how to use Internet and technology in general to improve themselves and advance their education. Small kids not so much...
- jaclaz 9y ago
  Right. The (wrong) idea is that the tool (tablet/laptop) by sheer magic can replace guidance, if you prefer it is a form of lazyness by the teachers and/or the parents that assume that the kids will not do what they are better at (which is of course playing) 80-90% of the time (and use it for school work for the bare minimum 10-20% actually needed to get a decent vote). Under some guidance I find the tablet or laptop an exceptionally good tool, but it is just a tool, so in itself its usage without appropriate programs and mentoring it can become worse than useless, an additional means of distraction.

by jaclaz 9y ago

JoshTriplett 9y ago

Obvious answer: "yes, both, several of the above". Doesn't have to be an either-or.

eat_veggies 9y ago

As a relatively younger human I can say that I fit the bill and the answer is "both." I watch videos, play video games, browse memes, and listen to music but at the same time I also program and work on lots of side projects. It's possible to do both but I guess it is tempting to just consume media with these shiny devices--it's way too easy to waste an entire afternoon playing Overwatch or getting lost on Reddit.

tomek_zemla 9y ago

OP here... Exactly. My concern is that 11, 12, 13 year olds need a lot of editorial guidance, mentoring and teachers who are truly fluent with technology to do more useful activities and less useless or downright harmful on their devices. 18 year old can (usually) figure out how to use Internet and technology in general to improve themselves and advance their education. Small kids not so much...

jaclaz 9y ago
Right. The (wrong) idea is that the tool (tablet/laptop) by sheer magic can replace guidance, if you prefer it is a form of lazyness by the teachers and/or the parents that assume that the kids will not do what they are better at (which is of course playing) 80-90% of the time (and use it for school work for the bare minimum 10-20% actually needed to get a decent vote). Under some guidance I find the tablet or laptop an exceptionally good tool, but it is just a tool, so in itself its usage without appropriate programs and mentoring it can become worse than useless, an additional means of distraction.