Sunday, October 17, 2010

Media Usage vs. Academics?

This is a bit of a pet topic of mine. I for one, happen to love all things electronic. I love to read and the internet is the perfect fix for an information junkie, and especially for people who are interested in participating in the online media community at large. On the other hand, there are new studies showing the repercussions of spending too much time in front of screens--televisions, computers, iPads and iPods--as our culture becomes increasingly passive about its consumption of electronic media. Despite my affection for being connected to the electronic umbilical cord, I also had the pleasure of growning up in the state of Idaho. Most of my free time was spent outdoors, in fields, playgrounds, parks, forests and occasionally on tree limbs. Reading Richard Louv's book made me realize that there is a generation of kids growing up in a completely new way--sans mother nature. It may be of interest to Mass Comm students that a lack of time outdoors has a direct impact on their academic performance. There are a number of studies being conducted in this particular vein, and it is something to be aware of when you elect to become a part of the media culture. We love the net, the news and the feeling of connection, but there may be a cost. One of the best articles on the subject can be found at this nifty blog post.
Happy debating...

3 comments:

  1. I don't think the place affect of the child's accademic performance. Because, childlen who like studying study in any situation. The most important thing is electronic media lost the learning mind of people because electric media give the answer easily and quickly to people. People don't have to think due to computer; however, people who grow up in the wild need to think many things because they must do their things by themselves. The ancient people lived in the hard situation by finding the way of surviving.
    I think the number of people who stick with computer and become to luck of accademic performance increase in these days that people misunderstand the result of luck of accademic performance is due to computer not that people. I perfectly believe it depends on people. The situation will change by how people act.
    One thing we must think is how we make people motivate by using electrnic media. Now is electrnic society and people can't leave from electrnic device. How many people can patient within a day without a television, music, computer, and so on. We must use an electrnic media and think new way people to learn by themselves. For example, an softwre campany makes a learning game. It is not only give a answer but try to think some abstact question by themselves. I don't know this kind of software become benefit or not but I think it need for this society.In any case, people need to get back the learing mind even if now is an electrnic society and easy to able to get answer which they wish.

    By Fumiya Hashizume

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  2. I also grew up in Idaho and as a child I could rarely be found indoors, Playing outside was good for me, I had an outlet for energ and I used my imagination when playing with friends and building friendships. As an adult i spend alot of my time on the internet and I am an information junkie, i love that I can learn almost anything by jumping online.

    As a mother, I do see that my son has less interest in being outside with friends and much more interest in playing playstation, being online, or watching TV. we try to limit it, but its what he wants to do. He doesnt seem use much imagination and it concerns me. I feel that this is a bad thing, critical thinking skills are important, the ability to use imagination is important and he is less interested in learning and much more interested in winning video games.

    Just like anything else, this new internet and electronic culture is good in moderation. Too much can be a bad thing. In my opinion.

    _Rebecca Ayre

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  3. I totally agree with Rebecca. And I read that book review - I think it is something I would enjoy reading. I feel like I am close to the "borderline generation" - between the nature vs media kiddos. I grew up playing with friends outside. Nintendos were newer - and I definitely loved Sega Sonic (ha). But all of my friends and my siblings' friends were still well balanced playing outside, sports or actual games. But the kids in high school now and younger I feel are a little overfed on the media at home. Is it just me or do most of them seem really awkward and socially inept? I feel like playing with kids your age face to face, playing games outside, etc. build social skills and physical coordination skills. I feel like the kids that are left in front of a computer or tv(including 'educational' games and cartoons) just aren't developing the skills they need to survive and succeed in life.

    Amanda Hansen

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