Digital kids: Growing up wired
CNET News.com examines the young generation's unique immersion in the Web, cell phones, IM and online communities.
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What kids learn in virtual worlds
By Stefanie Olsen
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
November 15, 2007 12:15 p.m. PST
Kids who are active members of virtual worlds are learning how to socialize, how to be technologically savvy, and how to be good little consumers.
That's according to a group of academics and researchers who met Wednesday evening at the University of Southern California to discuss the effects of virtual worlds on children today. Of course, virtual worlds are still so new that researchers haven't had much time to study their impact on kids. But the MacArthur Foundation, a sponsor of the panel discussion, has invested millions in research over the next several years to ask such questions.
Doug Thomas, associate professor at USC's Annenberg School of Communication, said during the panel that much of what's happening in virtual environments is informal learning. In many cases, kids are getting an early education with technology, learning how to be members of a citizenship and picking up skills that they'll need in the future workforce, Thomas said.
Read the rest of the story here.
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Stefanie Olsen covers science and technology for CNET News.com. In this series, she examines the young generation's unique immersion in the Web, cell phones, IM and online communities.
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Recent blog postings
What kids learn in virtual worlds
By Stefanie Olsen
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
November 15, 2007 12:15 p.m. PST
Kids who are active members of virtual worlds are learning how to socialize, how to be technologically savvy, and how to be good little consumers.
That's according to a group of academics and researchers who met Wednesday evening at the University of Southern California to discuss the effects of virtual worlds on children today. Of course, virtual worlds are still so new that researchers haven't had much time to study their impact on kids. But the MacArthur Foundation, a sponsor of the panel discussion, has invested millions in research over the next several years to ask such questions.
Doug Thomas, associate professor at USC's Annenberg School of Communication, said during the panel that much of what's happening in virtual environments is informal learning. In many cases, kids are getting an early education with technology, learning how to be members of a citizenship and picking up skills that they'll need in the future workforce, Thomas said.
Read the rest of the story here.
Recent Digital Kids stories
Say so long to traditional letter writing
What would Emily Post think about e-mail invitations and IM chats? She died 47 years ago, so we asked her great-granddaughter.This summer camp is all about technology
iD Tech Camp offers thousands of kids classes on video game design, Web design, digital video editing, programming and robotics.Kids say e-mail is, like, soooo dead
The future of e-mail might be found on the pages of MySpace and Facebook, if teen habits are any indicator.Software lets parents monitor kids' calls
When someone not on a parent-approved list calls, parents receive a real-time text alert on their cell phone.The ABCs of learning online
Teaching toddlers online is getting easier, thanks to Starfall and other learning Web sites that are growing fast.Summer's here, the Web surfing's fine
With vacation starting, some parents are grappling with the scourge of kids shunning the great outdoors for video games and the Net.Raising safe and smart Internet citizens
Tech camps for kids: Get the right fit
Flash animation or tennis? As summer camps open for business, parents need to seek out a good balance.Ten cool camp choices
Teenager today, tech exec tomorrow
Silicon Valley conference shows how Web entrepreneurs are getting younger and younger--some are not of driving age.A new crop of kids: Generation We
In tech-savvy homes, researchers say, kids are gaining a much more global outlook at a younger age.About the author
Stefanie Olsen covers science and technology for CNET News.com. In this series, she examines the young generation's unique immersion in the Web, cell phones, IM and online communities.