http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/4147.aspx
In the race to maximize test scores and minimize downtime, students are spending less time on the playground and more time online. Teachers are struggling to find a balance without loosing to much instructional time. Why not mix technology and outdoors? In science, we can use different technologies on the playground or school surroundings. Some examples of activities w/technology include: Using a digital camera to document a nature walk, Digital recording device to record environmental sounds, Microscope with photo eyepiece to discover elements of nature, camcorders to create short films on bus safety or favorite field trips.
Do you think our students have drifted from the outdoors? If so, do you feel technology has played a role in this drift?
Do you feel we can easily make this transition to use instructional time with the outdoors?
I LOVE THIS ARTICLE!!!! I think many factors contribute to students being indoors, but believe technology is the main one. I think this is such a great idea!!! I think that things like this could be done on weekends with parents and with friends! This is a great way to get a family our and active. It is usually hard to figure out how to get kids out and active and I really think this is on the right track!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you Alana. Technology definitely has played a bigger role in making kids want to stay indoors a lot more. Teachers can probably transition the students into doing more outdoor activities but how much of their class time would they be allowed to do so? But I do agree with Alana, in that if parents and kids on the weekends do more outdoor activities then the children will be less interested in playing video games or watching tv.
ReplyDeleteI think our students have drifted from the outdoors because of technology. Growing up, I always had to go outside and play. If I wasn't playing a sport or some kind of activity, I would have to be reading. I never owned a video game system in my life and computer and television time was limited. However, I notice today how you drive around neighborhoods and barely see any children outside playing games. Kids were all over the place when I was growing up and its sad to see that regression indoors due to technology. I don't think we could make this transition easily but I do think it can be done. I think it would take some persuasion but is definitely a possibility.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tim, technology has brought these kids indoors. These children are stimulated more by sitting isolated in front of a computer or tv screen then they are among their peers at school. As a result these kids are not getting the exercise or sunlight that the need? If your trapped inside all day without even seeing the sunlight you can't help but be depressed (believe me I went to Cortland where the sun was never out)! Maybe this is why we are medicating kids for depression at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a stay-at-home mom, I used to push Michael around my neighborhood in the stroller and wonder why there were no kids outside playing. As my own children got older, they wanted to spend less and less time outdoors, definitely as a result of technology. I think we do have to get creative about ways to get kids back outdoors, and why not use the technology they love so much as a way to entice them outside? I think it is a great idea.
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