THE NEED FOR

BALANCE
Chapter 1
LACK OF BALANCE
Concerns over what the digital world is doing to the minds of
young people
Cognitive development could be changing
Lack of ability to build face-to-face relationships
Multitasking
Trouble focusing
Other concerns
THE NEED FOR BALANCE
Adults and the reality of the new online world
Interest
Relevance
Non digital time tools and resources
Balance for both adults and children


THE PROBLEM OF THE
GAP
Chapter 2
CONNECTING IS KEY
Understand what kids are going through

Kids have different experiences available to them due to the digital
world that they live in.

Traditional instruction is not working as effectively as it once did
in our schools.
THE FIRST STEP
Taking a look at ourselves
Living on the Future Edge (Jukes, McCain, & Crockett, 2010)
DO YOU REMEMBER??
Riding Bikes without helmets
Sitting down for nightly meals with the family
Being sent to your room was a punishment
One TV in the household
One computer in the house
Going to the library to do research
THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS
NOW
Google for instant answers
Endless internet access
Facebook Friends
Online games and communities
Cellphones, Ipad, Ipod, Computers and various other electronics
Bedrooms are now a place to escape from reality.
THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS
NOW
The world is constantly on the move
House holds have changed
The rhythm of life has changed
The Media Family: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants Toddlers,
Preschoolers, School Age Children and Their Parents (Rideout and
Hamel) A week in the life of an average school-age child includes .5
hour with dad, 2.6 hours with mom, 2.2 hours doing homework, .5 hour
reading for pleasure, and more than 25 hours watching television, playing
video games and interacting with digital devices
DFL OR DSL?
Digital as a first language

Digital as a second language

Learn the culture and customs

Different Focus/Skill set
WHAT WE KNOW
ABOUT THE DIGITAL
GENERATION
Chapter 3
CHILDREN REALLY
ARE DIFFERENT
The way they think
The way they access
The way they absorb
They way they interpret
They way they process and use information
The way they view, interact and communicate in the modern world
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
The brain is highly adaptive and remains malleable throughout life

Supply of brain cells is continually replenished

Use it or lose it

Gaming isn't just for slackers

QUALIFYING THE
RESEARCH
Brains dont change spontaneously


Does several hours a day remind you of anything else that is
happening in our children's lives today???


IMPACT OF GAMES AND
DEVICES
Digital bombardment

The brain as a tree

How have changes in the brain affected the digital generaion?
EFFECTS OF DIGITAL
BOMBARDMENT
The visual cortex

Visual vs Oral

What does this mean??


CONCLUSION
We process information in slightly different ways based on gender,
age and experiences
Understanding helps
Todays learners are not the same
The starting point.