The Electronic Generation1 Children & Electronic Media Negative Relation (mostly defined prev.) –Children’s vulnerability exploited –Individuality undermined –Innocence destroyed –Parents’ fear? Nostalgia? Scholars’ pessimism? New Media Technology (i.e.,Computer…) –Powerful media literacy possessed by children –New opportunities to learn –For creativity, community, self-fulfillment

The Electronic Generation2 Nightmares & Utopia Digital and Interactive –Computer good? –Television bad? Prev. AKA “teaching machine” Educational Potentials Imitative Violence (with realistic graphics) Effects on Imagination and Academic Achievement Addition, Anti-Social, Human Interaction New Form of Democracy Mythology about Children? About Technology?

The Electronic Generation3 Technological Determinism Technology is seen to emerge from a neutral process of scientific research and development, rather than from the interplay of complex social, economic and political forces Hard sphere transferred to Soft sphere

The Electronic Generation4 Four Key Books (Utopian View) 1.Growing Up Digital by Tapscott 2.The Connected Family by Papert 3.Virtuous Reality by Katz 4.Playing the Future by Rushkoff Postman: –Death of childhood –Powerful media influence children Authors above (Social decline vs. Social progress) –Mirroring ‘death of childhood’ –Powerful children empowered by new media technology

The Electronic Generation5 Binary Opposition TV as passive Singular view of the world Isolation Conservative, hierarchical, inflexible The Net as active Democratic & interactive Community Hungry for expression, discovery, development

The Electronic Generation6 Optimism about Digital Democratization Freedom of choice & expression Openness Innovation Collaboration

The Electronic Generation7 Things to Consider (1) Technology-Rich vs. Technology Poor –Equipment? –Social Structure? –Technical Expertise? –Pedagogical Perspectives? Democracy or More Surveillance? New Technology = New Learning?

The Electronic Generation8 Things to Consider (2) Sexual content harmful? –Centralized control undermined by technology –Subversive nature of children culture –Not to prevent access but to enable them to cope with New, old media vs. New, old cultural forms Natural Wisdom of Youth? Evolution of the Species?