Technology!
Consumer or Creator?
More often than not we hear children do not necessarily benefit from technology; however, research shows it can be great for them. It is up to us as parents to help our kids not only survive growing up in a tech-filled world, but also thrive and stay one step ahead of today's ever-changing technology. Children today can create amazing things when they're equipped with coding and robotics know-how such as: online games, apps and real robots! Not only can they build and create cool projects, but also learn to utilize and or apply the following skills:
- Active minds
- Problem-solving skills
- Strategy formation and completion of task
- Interactive and hands-on activities
- Practical STEM skills
When you are governing your child's use of technology, ask yourself 'Is this a consumer activity, or a creator activity?'
Playing hours of video games is arguably a black hole of wasted time, but actually coding a video game is an exercise in creativity, analytics, planning, and mathematics. It can lay the ground work for a career in the knowledge economy. Playing with a toy that moves and reacts to sensors is just a fun pastime, but building a toy that moves and reacts to sensors and programming the code is so much more. The same can be said for watching movies vs. making movies.
The next time you find your child spending an hour or so, on the tablet or computer, take a moment and determine if he/she is being a consumer or a creator. You just might find you want to leave them to it for a little while longer.
This summer, Sylvan Learning is offering classes in Movie Magic, Robotics and Coding, as a part of their EDGE program for children that are interested in these fields These courses will provide their young minds with a world of opportunities and inspire them to master 21st-century skills that are important for today's growing STEM careers.
Call Sylvan today at 403-341-6110 for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment