Expectations

Seems lately every time my kids walk by my laptop and either here voices coming from it or see a video playing they first of all get quiet and then try to sneak around behind me to see what I'm doing. If they see video playing they wave at my webcam, trying to make contact with whoever is on the other hand. Half of the time it is just video playing, but they can't tell that at first glance.

Kids being kids.

The reason that I think this is interesting enough to write about is that I have realized that my kids have the expectation, the realization, that this type of communication is even possible. Even though they live in a small town in the middle of nowhere, they will constantly look at my Skype list and ask me where people are from. They understand that this type of full, two way audio and video communication is easy enough that it can be done while I am doing dishes or cutting up vegetables, getting ready for supper.

They understand podcasting and Skype. They think having your own personal television station on Ustream TV is interesting. They want certain things on the iPod when we travel so they can either watch or listen to things that are interesting to them. When I was a kid (and I'm only 37!!) we had two television stations stations and I remember when we got a colour TV in our house. My kids on the other hand expect things to be personally meaningful for them. They expect world wide communication to be seamless, easy, and cheap. When my sons are bored of watching TV or playing with their Wii they like to make their own movies on their camera and I am trying to get them interested in Scratch. They move easily between consuming media and producing it and they expect to be able to do both.

My boys are seven and nine.

How far we have come.

technorati tags:ustream, skype, communication, scratch, iPod

Comments

[Sherry Crofut]

Your boys have no idea how lucky they are. I am just getting to Skype, podcasting, Ustream TV, and such. I feel like I can't keep up. Your kids will always expect this to be the norm! Good for you!

[Samantha]

I think your post is proof that as educators it is important to bring all forms of technology possible into the classroom. Just seeing how they will crowd around your laptop full of curiosity is a golden opportunity to keep their interest and teach them at the same time. In a class I am currently taking, we are learning about all sorts of free programs out there on the web open to us. From these programs we are learning and coming up with ways to incorporate them into the curriculum. However, although I think technology and the internet are great tools for students, we must make sure that we teach them how to protect themselves on the web and how to use these programs responsibly.

[Tom]

I've got two and four year old boys. They routinely wave at cell phones because they are used to being on video chat with their grandparents.

It'll be interesting to see what those kind of inherent expectations do to communication trends in the next 15 years.

[Gabe Birkey]

Your kids will grow up in a completely different generation than me (and I’m only 21!) It’s not that technology wasn’t available when I was young, it just wasn’t available to me. I grew up in a home where these types of resources weren’t considered the best way to communicate with people. And while I have no regrets about my upbringing, I’m actually very proud of it, I do plan on doing things a bit different when I start my family. For example, you mentioned several programs that you and your children use on a daily basis. These things are tools. Tools of communication. Tools of pleasure. Tools of work. They’re tools that help us do some tasks better and easier. And long as we have these tools, why not take advantage of them.

We certainly have come far.