Technology and Kids

Our students today have grown up with digital technology. In fact, some use the term "digital natives" to describe young people who are very comfortable with new technology because they have not known a world without it. Those of us who go back some years can be called "digital immigrants". We are at varying levels of being tech-savvy but we will always have an "accent" because we grew up in a non-digital world. The 4th grader in this photo is perfectly comfortable with computers and certainly knows his way around the library!

The other photo has two more 4th graders- one with old media - a VHS tape, and the other with newer media - a DVD. The challenge for school libraries is to try to update resources while being realistic about budgets. Our library has plenty of DVDs; however, we also have VHS tapes which continue to be used for curriculum support. Even if we could financially replace every VHS tape tomorrow, I might not be able to find every title that has proven useful for teachers. So, updating is done bit-by-bit, year-by-year. Last week's blog mentioned the new digital audiobooks that will be purchased through a CCEP Grant. By using budget money, SAF funds from Book Fair proceeds, and grant money, we hope to try to keep up with newer resources.

One lesson I like to share with 3rd grade students is to show a filmstrip about "Mr. Dewey and His Decimal System". I held on to this filmstrip when I got rid of many others back in 1999. I like the way it explains this Big Idea: When information is organized, it is easier to locate and use. That's an important message in any age.

Another reason for showing a film projector and filmstrip is the oportunity to discuss how technology changes. I like to challenge the 3rd graders by saying that their children or grandchildren will think DVDs are antiques. When I suggest they might go to a yard sale in 30 years and find an I Pod for a dollar, I hope they can grasp that they will see plenty of changes in the years ahead.

Finally, a new lesson we've shared this year is for students to brainstorm tech media into three categories - old, fairly new, and new. We have noticed that some media (filmstrips, vinyl) are nearly obsolete, but others were invented many years ago and keep changing (TVs, cameras, phones, etc.) This integrates well with the Science standards and helps us recognize the importance of media in our lives. By the way, it was quite an eye-opener for myself and a student teacher when we heard that CDs were old media!

Thanks for reading!