Digital Smarts Blog

Are your kids interested in using technology to enhance projects for school? Take a look at the article 5^th grade teacher Jesse Buetow has written on Edutopia site entitled Using Technology to Inspire Independent Readers. Although the piece is written for teachers, the list of apps is a great resource for parents as well. Many of the apps he suggests are free like TouchCast, an inclusive video production app that has features such as video graphics, text, and links. The green-screen option in the app also allows your kids to place themselves in the book and even create a professional-looking commercial.

Are your kids interested in using technology to enhance projects for school? Take a look at the article 5^th grade teacher Jesse Buetow has written on Edutopia site entitled Using Technology to Inspire Independent Readers. Although the piece is written for teachers, the list of apps is a great resource for parents as well. Many of the apps he suggests are free like TouchCast, an inclusive video production app that has features such as video graphics, text, and links. The green-screen option in the app also allows your kids to place themselves in the book and even create a professional-looking commercial.

Reading through posts and comments on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter can make it easy to convince yourself that social media is just a giant echo chamber where users with specific political views talk to each other and different viewpoints are ignored. That may not always be the case. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, being exposed to differing views via social media can sometimes cause people to rethink how they view a political issue. The Pew study found that 20% of those surveyed reported that their stance on a social or political issue was changed because of something they saw on social media, and 17% said that social media had changed their views about a specific candidate.

Reading through posts and comments on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter can make it easy to convince yourself that social media is just a giant echo chamber where users with specific political views talk to each other and different viewpoints are ignored. That may not always be the case. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, being exposed to differing views via social media can sometimes cause people to rethink how they view a political issue. The Pew study found that 20% of those surveyed reported that their stance on a social or political issue was changed because of something they saw on social media, and 17% said that social media had changed their views about a specific candidate.

A new documentary explores the impact smartphones and other mobile devices are having on teenagers and their social, emotional and psychological lives. “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” examines the effects screen technology has on kids, and offers parents practical solutions that can work. The movie, directed by California-raised, New York-based physician Dr. Delaney Ruston, has played at several film festivals and is screening at schools, churches and community centers across the country.

A new documentary explores the impact smartphones and other mobile devices are having on teenagers and their social, emotional and psychological lives. “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” examines the effects screen technology has on kids, and offers parents practical solutions that can work. The movie, directed by California-raised, New York-based physician Dr. Delaney Ruston, has played at several film festivals and is screening at schools, churches and community centers across the country.

Do your kids always seem to be digitally distracted? Do you worry what this means for their learning? Some research finds that digital multitasking distracts from learning, but other research shows that some distractions can boost learning.  How can you find a happy medium? Experts on the subject make suggestions for when to use technology in the article How to Deal With Digital Distractions. The advice includes tips on how to  listening to music at a low volume while studying or when to lay off completely, such as writing notes by hand instead of using a laptop.

Do your kids always seem to be digitally distracted? Do you worry what this means for their learning? Some research finds that digital multitasking distracts from learning, but other research shows that some distractions can boost learning.  How can you find a happy medium? Experts on the subject make suggestions for when to use technology in the article How to Deal With Digital Distractions. The advice includes tips on how to  listening to music at a low volume while studying or when to lay off completely, such as writing notes by hand instead of using a laptop.

There may be a connection between childhood obesity and watching television during meals, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Researchers studied videos of dinners for 120 families with children ages 6 to 12 and found that those who eat dinner with the TV on tend to eat less healthy food and to enjoy the meals less than families who leave the TV off. Researchers said that, “Having the TV on during dinner is a distraction which may lead to ‘mindless eating’ including overeating without realizing it.”

There may be a connection between childhood obesity and watching television during meals, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Researchers studied videos of dinners for 120 families with children ages 6 to 12 and found that those who eat dinner with the TV on tend to eat less healthy food and to enjoy the meals less than families who leave the TV off. Researchers said that, “Having the TV on during dinner is a distraction which may lead to ‘mindless eating’ including overeating without realizing it.”

Many college advisers are suggesting that applicants create elaborate LinkedIn profiles to submit with their college applications. The thinking is that it adds polish to the list of activities and accomplishments submitted to admission boards. For high school students, going this route is partly a defense mechanism against college admissions officers who snoop on applicants’ public Facebook and Twitter activities — without disclosing how that may affect an applicant’s chance of acceptance. A recent study from Kaplan Test Prep of about 400 college admissions officers reported that 40 percent said they had visited applicants’ social media pages, a fourfold increase since 2008. Some students, though, point out that college admissions people will not get to know them on a more personal basis viewing only these “sanitized” postings.

Many college advisers are suggesting that applicants create elaborate LinkedIn profiles to submit with their college applications. The thinking is that it adds polish to the list of activities and accomplishments submitted to admission boards. For high school students, going this route is partly a defense mechanism against college admissions officers who snoop on applicants’ public Facebook and Twitter activities — without disclosing how that may affect an applicant’s chance of acceptance. A recent study from Kaplan Test Prep of about 400 college admissions officers reported that 40 percent said they had visited applicants’ social media pages, a fourfold increase since 2008. Some students, though, point out that college admissions people will not get to know them on a more personal basis viewing only these “sanitized” postings.

USA Today has released a list of 7 things you should never do online. Most of it comes down to common sense like checking sources of information, avoiding over-sharing, and not using the same password for every site, but if you are thinking about syncing your social media accounts so the same message goes out over multiple platforms, you might want to think again. You also may seriously want to get onboard the “two factor authentication” train.  Of course we all know we shouldn’t get into arguments on social media but it can be like a siren’s song. Learn to resist.

USA Today has released a list of 7 things you should never do online. Most of it comes down to common sense like checking sources of information, avoiding over-sharing, and not using the same password for every site, but if you are thinking about syncing your social media accounts so the same message goes out over multiple platforms, you might want to think again. You also may seriously want to get onboard the “two factor authentication” train.  Of course we all know we shouldn’t get into arguments on social media but it can be like a siren’s song. Learn to resist.

Time Magazine is offering a list of the 50 best iPhone and Android apps of the year. For parents and other adults, it is a good way to stay on top of what is current and learn more about the apps your kids are using.

Time Magazine is offering a list of the 50 best iPhone and Android apps of the year. For parents and other adults, it is a good way to stay on top of what is current and learn more about the apps your kids are using.

Twitter has been a pioneer in real-time social media, allowing first responders to tweet about severe weather warnings such as movements of tornados and hurricanes and, in the past, even giving the world a play-by-play version of the raid on Osama Bin Laden. But Twitter is in trouble, recently announcing it will cut 9% of its global workforce. While Twitter has been at the forefront of social media, the company has struggled to reign in increasing abuse on the service. 

The barrage of online harassment is one reason the company has fallen flat with several buyers, according to reports. Rumors have circulated that Disney may buy the company, but previously the organization declined to pursue Twitter because of the platform's well-publicized issues with trolls, such as the case with Milo Yiannopolous, who harass users.

Twitter has been a pioneer in real-time social media, allowing first responders to tweet about severe weather warnings such as movements of tornados and hurricanes and, in the past, even giving the world a play-by-play version of the raid on Osama Bin Laden. But Twitter is in trouble, recently announcing it will cut 9% of its global workforce. While Twitter has been at the forefront of social media, the company has struggled to reign in increasing abuse on the service. 

The barrage of online harassment is one reason the company has fallen flat with several buyers, according to reports. Rumors have circulated that Disney may buy the company, but previously the organization declined to pursue Twitter because of the platform's well-publicized issues with trolls, such as the case with Milo Yiannopolous, who harass users.

The impact of social media on our lives has been studied for years, but new research finds a major upside: being active on the social networking site is associated with living longer. This association was seen when the site served to maintain and enhance real-world friendships. The authors of the study note that the research was observational and does not prove that Facebook use actually leads to a longer life. However, they say the study shows that the health benefits of strong social connectedness extend to those on the internet.

The impact of social media on our lives has been studied for years, but new research finds a major upside: being active on the social networking site is associated with living longer. This association was seen when the site served to maintain and enhance real-world friendships. The authors of the study note that the research was observational and does not prove that Facebook use actually leads to a longer life. However, they say the study shows that the health benefits of strong social connectedness extend to those on the internet.