Happy New Year to all Netters:
The Museum of Science in Boston is hosting a very interesting Forum on
Sunday, January 28th from 2:00-5:00 that I think would be of interest
tothose of you who are in the area. It is entitled
Children and Computers: What is the Recommended Daily Allowance?
Whether they're playing games, using the Web for research, or instant
messaging friends, children of all ages are increasingly using
computers. But how much of a role--and what type of role -- should
computers and online interactions play in their daily lives?
In the style of most Forums at the Museum of Science, "Children and
Computers" begins with presentations from a panel of experts and then
continues with informal small group discussions. Participants will share
their perspectives, values, and opinions, and come to their own
conclusions of how much and what sort of computer use is best for children.
NOTE: teenagers are encouraged to participate in the January 28th Forum
as it is geared to children ages 11-18.
Panelists to include:
. Professor Eric Klopfer, Director, MIT Teacher Education Program (how
games can bridge students' experiences in school and out)
. Professor Henry Jenkins, Director, MIT Comparative Media Studies
Program (core skills and competencies young people need if they are
going to be full participants in the new media landscape)
. Ingeborg Endter, Consultant, formerly of the Intel Computer Clubhouse
Network (creative uses of computers and social networking)
The program is FREE and includes light refreshments...so if you have
time on Sunday, January 28th from 2:00 to 5:00, call and sign up today:
617-589-4250 or ForumRSVP@mos.org <mailto:forumrsvp@mos.org>
For more information visit: http://www.mos.org/doc/2047
The first forum in this series took place on Sunday, November 19, 2006
and focused on younger children (ages 3 - 10)
Panelists included:
Margaret Bush (Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information
Science, Simmons College) talked about some of the 21st century dilemmas
in expanding the concept of literacy. Computers provide many
opportunities and some challenges in supporting children as they acquire
language and gain skill in using it in reading, writing, and thinking.
What mix of tools and skills do children need today? Are some more
important than others?
Alex Chisholm (Co-Director, MIT Education Arcade) talked about how
parents and kids can play popular games to learn cool stuff. We don't
need to be afraid of the mouse, keyboard, and joystick polluting young
minds, but we do need to be smart about introducing kids to the right
kinds of experiences at the right ages.
Diane Levin (Professor of Education, Department of Early Childhood
Education, Wheelock College) talked about the vital importance of
creative play for children's development and learning. Children's
involvement with computers can undermine creative play and contribute to
a dependence on externally-controlled, programmed activities rather than
internally controlled, creative play. How can we help children grow up
to be informed and responsible computer users?
Natalie Rusk (Developmental Technologies Research Group, Tufts
University) showed how constructive tools can engage children in
designing creative projects. She shared two innovative technologies:
PicoCrickets, a construction kit for making playful inventions; and
Scratch, a programming language that lets young people create their own
animations, games, and interactive art.
Other dates in this series::
Sunday February 11, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Focus on younger children)
Sunday, March 4, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Focus on older children, teens)
--
--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jody Newman
Library Aide, retired
Stow, MA
newjody@comcast.net
"Almost everything you pay for in life is an entry fee.
What happens next is up to you." Steven Dutch, U of Wisconsin
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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