Please read the Kaiser Family Foundation Report on Technology Use by America’s Youth

Cathie: Just when you thought the youth of today couldn’t spend any more time on their electronic devices, a Kaiser Family Foundation report documents that they ARE spending more time!
Elliot: “The average young American now spends practically every waking minute – except for the time in school – using a smartphone, computer, …” That’s the lead line from the article on the report that appeared on the front page…
Cathie: … ABOVE the fold…
Elliot: …in the New York Times.
Cathie: We urge all of you to read the NY Times article; it will either confirm your worst fears of technology use by America’s youth or it will confirm your belief that schools need to stop fighting the kids about their technology use outside the classroom – and adopt it for use “in school.”
Elliot: People are busy; they won’t read it. So, here is one more quote from the same article: “…with media use so ubiquitous, it [is] time to stop arguing over whether it [is] good or bad and accept it as part of children’s environment…”
Cathie: “like the air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat.”
Elliot: But, I’ve already read two comments about the findings in the study that are negative.
Cathie: .. only two?... both negative?
Elliot:  Only two and both negative, yes. I have mentioned this study to my colleagues and all I get is blank stares. It has not received any real attention in the education world.
Cathie:  That’s probably because the education world is so embroiled in testing, national curriculum, testing, stimulus funds, testing, etc., that it is really hard to hear this sort of news.
Elliot: Ha ha ha. Did you say “testing”?
Cathie: <smiles oh so brightly>
Elliot: And the current administration is going to re-up NCLB. Every educator knows that the testing focus is misguided.
Cathie: Careful, careful – “every” is a strong word.
Elliot: Every educator knows or should know!
Cathie: Let’s devote a blog posting…
Elliot: .. or ten…
Cathie: … to testing. But let’s end this one on a more positive note.
Elliot: Indeed!  What was that quote from a colleague in Colorado?
Cathie: It was Oregon…
Elliot: … picky, picky…
Cathie: … he said that technology for today’s youth is “like oxygen, essential and invisible.”