Discussion Question #2

[George Arthur]

Instant messaging and texting are common place for many students. The
number of children under 10 with their own cell phone is on the rise.
Do you feel IMing and texting are a positive technology for our
students or a negitive technology? Why?

[George Arthur]

I think that Instant Messaging and texting are great technologies for
communicating in non-urgent short bursts. It beats having to call and
interrupt someone at work or church with a phone call for something
that is not important. With a text message, the person can text back
as soon as they have time. Even my 7 year old daughter texts me while
I am at work to let me know how her day is going and to ask questions.
That said, I think that text messaging and instant messaging, while a
serving an important communication need, is having a negative effect
on children’s ability to spell and with their grammar. This is
especially true with those who text heavily. They get so used to
abbreviating everything such as BFF or best friend forever, OMG or oh
my gosh, and IDC or I don’t care that they start using it in their
normal writing assignments. It is important that we ensure our
children know that texting language is ok for texting but they must
use correct spelling and grammar when communicating in an academic or
official manner.

[Maggie Bunch]

I think that teachers should enforce that "text language" is not
"school language". I think that IMing and text messaging can be a
positive thing and a negative thing. Talking on facebook or over text
messaging is different than talking in person. Not only does it hinder
students from using correct grammar, it also prevents them from using
social skills by talking to people in person. Students need social
skills to be successful in life. I think it can be appropriate for
adults that already have these social skills needed, but for children
under ten, I don't think that having a cell phone can extremely
positive. Yes, it can be convient at times. There are studies that
show that cell phones can have a negative effect on a persons health
and it is more dangerous at a younger age. I think that children
should not just be given a cell phone to use any time they please.
Children should be limited to using a cell phone only in emergencies
if they are under the age of thirteen, but that is just my opinion.

[George Arthur]

Maggie,

 

You bring up an interesting point about social skills. I have been thinking about this and I can see how it might affect person to person communications.  I think this would be more pronounced with a child who lives more digital than actual; one without many real friends.  But most kids that I know who are heavy texters are those who are always surrounded by their friends and text because they feel a need to be in touch all the time.  These children, I think, would have much better social skills and texting may not affect them as much.  I do worry about texting at school however, I think it is a big distraction and should not be allowed.

 

George

[Donna Crawford]

I like what you said, and as a parent I agree with what you said about
children under ten. however most parent give there children cell phone
by twelve because they start a lot of after school actives in seven
grade.

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[Donna Busby]

I'm torn on the whole texting issue, probably because I am not a fond
of texting. I find it easier just to call, but I do understand the
convince factor of texting. I did read an article not long ago that
stated even though kids usually text using abbreviations and often
drop vowels they are often more skilled in reading, vocabulary, and
phonological awareness simply because of the increased exposure to
print. So on that note, I think texting is a positive form of
technology.

[Donna Crawford]

I feel instant messing is acceptable for Jr. High and High school
students. We do have some students that would not socialize if it
wasn’t for technology. These students just do not feel comfortable in
face to face socializing. They may not be capable of dealing with
personal communications. Therefore technology allowed them to
socialize with their peers.

On Jun 30, 10:16 am, George Arthur <georgebart...@gmail.com> wrote: