Response to “Net-wise Teens: Safety, Ethics, and Innovation”

This article provides a substantial amount of information which pertinent and important to understanding the role of technology in the twenty-first century and the responsibility of teachers to master that role. I was first surprised with the digital sophistication of many students at such a young age, who know terms I am unfamiliar with. It is certainly clear that the majority of students are now wired, but it is very important to remember that the poor sector of this nation is separated from much of the technology, as the gap between tech-savvy and tech-ignorant threatens to grow wider. The fact that many students think all or most of the information on the internet is trustworthy is reason for concern, as students need to be more vigilantly taught which types of website need to be avoided. Taking severe steps to restrict illegal or wrong use of technology is also incredibly important in preparing students for interaction with the latest technological advancements. Making children “web literate” will be a very important objective for the twenty-first century, and seminars in schools may be a necessary step in the future. I am in favor of some of the methods the author proposes for utilizing the way students already use technology to improve education. However, I view internet “chat” as a growing threat to human communication and language. I do not support any technological education methods related to “chat,” but rather hope that the prevalence of this internet communication can be curtailed and ultimately pushed aside.