Children+and+Mobile+Meida

=MARVIN FLAMBERT=
 * New Media Literacy's**

I. My Questions
1. What are potential benefits of children being exposed and engaged in mobile media? 2. What are potential draw backs or obstacles of children being exposed and engaged in mobile media? 3. How many children utilize mobile media today in the United States alone? 4. At what age are these devices initially implemented in the lives of these children? 5. What purposes do these mobile devices serve in the lives of children? Whether it be recreational, educational, etc.

**II. I Wonder**
I wonder if mobile media impacts the way young children perceive networking and communication in contemporary society. I wonder if their are vast skill and cultural differences between modern day children and their parental counterparts in terms of both digital and media literacy. I wonder if use of mobile devices among children causes an accelerated understanding and perception of media technology and its uses. Do kids become more mature or intellectually stimulated by this technology or does it instead distract and reduce the rate at which children focus, learn, and their overall cognition?

**III. My Plan**
My course of action will be to conduct extensive library and online research regarding children and their interactions with mobile media. I will research statistics, compelling arguments, and any further evidence that support, deter, or confirms any ideas based and formulated around my questions pertaining to Children and Mobile Media. I will even carry out interviews with a few parents that have children ages 10+ for their opinions of the role mobile media may play in their children's lives.

**IV. What I want to Learn**
I want to learn what the future may have in store for children and mobile media. I want to find out any trends and stats the point towards how common place young children be accustomed to this type of tech will be. I want to learn what social norms may stem from this minute digital revolution. I would also like to learn perspectives of both parents and children on this matter and what pro's and con's society in general may find with this matter as well.

A Theory of Learning for the Mobile Age : Precis
The book titled, //Sage Handbook of E-Learning Research//, contains a chapter that explores how the average adult as well as adolescent in developed countries now own mobile phones and media devices. For many people in developing countries a mobile phone can offer the only means of sending long distance messages. In a parallel development as a result of the spread of personal technology, since the early 1980s schools, colleges and universities have experimented with handheld or mobile devices for learning.

//A Theory of Learning for the Mobile Age// is the chapter in this text that states that some of the classroom response systems utilized during these experiments were that of data probes and their use as handheld writing tools. Currently universities allow students to bring laptops to lectures and some schools are even providing students with Personal Digital Assistants and the newly established tablet computers. As personal mobile technologies for learning become more common and attainable, studies show evidence of a direct correlation to the value of incorporating mobile devices in teaching and learning as well as substantial issues, including conflicts between informal learning with personal devices and traditional classroom education. In contemporary times children are developing new skills and literacie's made possible by mobile devices, such as SMS and MMS texting, moblogging which is the composition of diaries and weblogs on mobile devices, and mobile video creation. A new generation of location-aware mobile phones that have already emerged offer further possibilities, of education services and educational media matched to the learner's context and interests.

The complex nature of of interactions between students, educational settings, and mobile media challenges conventional methods of education which impart learning in a fix location or setting. Mobile media allows the opportunity for ubiquitous learning nationally and globally via mobile mediation. This particular chapters purpose is to propose a theory of learning in a society of exponentially increasing social and personal mobility. This includes learning through the use of mobile phones, portable computers (laptops, tablets) and personal audio players as well as learning in an era defined by mobility of people and knowledge.

Citation
Andrews, I., & Haythornthwaite, C. A. (2007). //The sage handbook of e-learning research//. Sage Publications Ltd.

As part of my research method I have composed an interview in which I imposed seven questions regarding children and mobile media upon two parents who have a young child or children. These questions inquire about the parents perspective on positive, negative, and educational aspects of children's interactions with mobile media.

Parent One.
How old is your child? He is one.

What do you think of young children and their potential use of mobile media (cellphones, tablets, laptops etc.) ? I believe children will become rather dependent upon easy access to unlimited options. For example GPS location, access to the world wide web. Digitization will make certain modern technologies obsolete. Creating dependency on tech for basic needs and functions.

What may be positive aspects of children engaging in mobile media? Unlimited access to knowledge at their fingertips. May cause children to become ahead of their time, which can itself have pros or cons.

What may be negative? " " They may become more advanced in tech but become distracted and led astray as a result of immaturity and inexperience.

At what age would you allow your child to utilize any of the mobile devices listed in question 2? 12-14. Being that these are not neccessities adolescence is the best time for these devices because at this age children are beginning to change physically and mentally and can begin to fully appreciate and retain what these technologies have to offer.

What are your thoughts in regards to children using mobile media as an educational method or tool? I feel they would be very helpful. Using mobile devices with access to the internet helped me dramatically in my time at college. Its a great tool for any student. But only if its strictly geared toward educational purposes.

Has your child ever interacted with any form of mobile media? If so for how long and how often? My son so young so the only time he's ever interacted with a mobile device is when he was attempting to speak to his father over the phone. Every now and then I allow him to do this so its not to often but as he grows I know his interactions will most likely increase exponentially in this day and age.

Parent Two
How old is your Child? Four

What do you think of young children and their potential use of mobile media (cellphones, tablets, laptops etc.) ? Young children should be able to use mobile devices under the supervision of an adult.

What may be positive aspects of children engaging in mobile media? They would be an easy means of gaining knowledge and information in an academic setting as well as aid children with disabilities.

What may be negative? " " Negative possibilities are some those that can emerge from social networking. Kids organizing flash mobs and violent gatherings rapidly through social media is not the proper use intended for these technologies.

At what age would you allow your child to utilize any of the mobile devices listed in question 2? I will allow my child to use a mobile device at age 8 or 9 under my supervision for recreation.

What are your thoughts in regards to children using mobile media as an educational method or tool? I feel this is most definitely an effective way to capture the interest and attention of young children especially since it calms them in grasping their intellectual and recreational minds at a critical time when their mind is like a blank page thirsting for content.

Has your child ever interacted with any form of mobile media? If so for how long and how often? He does use a mobile device in school to help him with his ADHD under supervision and aid of his teachers.

Based on the answers given by both participants its safe to say the values demonstrated by these parents consist of education, adult supervision or involvement, appropriate and strict focus. These concerns would most likely mirror that of most parents of all walks of life. Even with only two participants a trend in the values of these devices purposes and uses for children seems imminent among parents.GreenZoner egypt