SillyDog701

[Antony]

We all know that today's kids have pretty much different aspects to the world compared to more matured members. According to this news report, a prominent psychologist has urged schools to ban children under the age of nine from using computers because the technology is damaging their brains.

Speaking at a conference of childcare specialists in the UK, psychologist and author Dr Aric Sigman said technology affected children's attentions spans and was harmful to their under-developed brains.

Well, some SillyDog701 members started using computer at age of 3.

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[iJohnE]

I started using a computer at around the age of 3. Then I've used them all through out my schooling.
My brain is fine. I'm still a top student.

I however, also started reading very very early. In kindergarten I was reading at a third grade level.

Personally, I think it's better to introduce technology at an early age, but we still need to star their reading and interactive skill as well.

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[Don_HH2K]

The use of technology used to imply reading and writing ability. When I was three, "using a computer" meant opening a Lotus SmartSuite app and doing something productive, or if you were adventurous, using a terminal emulator to get out to the Internet. Those were things you couldn't do without the ability to read.

That's a stark contrast to now, when kids nine and younger have the options of watching YouTube videos, making MySpace profiles, and playing early-childhood games with voice and symbols rather than text, all without much of a need for literacy.

Moving to ban computers for the under-ten crowd seems extreme, though, especially since the computer can be an effective learning tool if used properly. The problem is that no education market is interested in policing computer users. I learned to type on an Apple II in elementary school, before I was nine, which was advantageous since motor skills are generally best learned early.

I was recently informed that the high school I attended banned the use of laptops school-wide (it used to be at the instructor's discretion), citing decreased attention levels as the cause. Personally I think it's a massive step backwards, and caters to the lowest common denominator (the ones that can't focus) while shutting out those that can actually make use of technology in the classroom.

It's interesting that twenty years ago, big names like IBM and MECC figured out that the computer could be used to teach reading and writing (IBM even had an app called "Writing to Read" for the PCjr dedicated to that), yet now people say that it only hinders the development of those skills.

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[Antony]

I was recently informed that the high school I attended banned the use of laptops school-wide (it used to be at the instructor's discretion), citing decreased attention levels as the cause. Personally I think it's a massive step backwards, and caters to the lowest common denominator (the ones that can't focus) while shutting out those that can actually make use of technology in the classroom.

When I was in high school in mid 90s, no students had laptop in class or school at all. We were taught that way. Well, we must be outdated in comparison since we did not have the technology in the classroom back then.

Hardly anyone had mobile phones back then. Which translates to hardly anyone TXT or SMS.

One very noticeable problem with kids starting relying on computers at early age is many of them have very horrible handwriting and they don't care about spellings much.

(BTW, Antony does not speak English.)

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[Don_HH2K]

When I was in high school in mid 90s, no students had laptop in class or school at all. We were taught that way. Well, we must be outdated in comparison since we did not have the technology in the classroom back then.

With everything going digital, can you still expect schools to remain on pen and paper? That would only create a gap between the digitized workplace that these kids are going to grow up into, and the technologically-backwards school that's giving instruction. These skills should at least be given some priority in the kids' education.

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[Antony]

With everything going digital, can you still expect schools to remain on pen and paper? That would only create a gap between the digitized workplace that these kids are going to grow up into, and the technologically-backwards school that's giving instruction. These skills should at least be given some priority in the kids' education.

The usage of calculators, particularly the graphic calculators by American students, shows a nice example. Real life example: simple calculations such as 0.1 A + 0.15 A (in basic electrical circuits) which to me can be done in head, exchange students from America would take out their graphic calculators.

Such basic calculation may seem too much to ask for today's students to perform in their heads. And the laptop in class/school? Simple. It would be too harsh to ask the young generation to know the basic knowledge in their heads. They are a new generation which rely on Wikipedia and Google.

Furthermore, the very important modern technology is taking away the focus and the time on the fundamental topics/things such as basic etiquette, ethics etc. I am a feeling that you are laughing that I even mention etiquette and ethics, as in laughing at me that I suggest school should teach such things.

Well, unlike many people who are into everything latest, I am old-schooled.

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