Teach42.com reported yesterday about a new study by the National School Boards Association and Grunwald Associates LLC that explored the online behaviors of teens and ‘tweens’ in the United States. The press release can be found here, and the report itself can be read here.
The report contains a wealth of information that can be chewed on for hours. What I found really interesting is the fact that blogging and content creation online is increasing (when compared to 2002). Wasn’t blogging supposed to have died out, or at least become ‘uncool’ with the younger generation, several times over the past few years? I guess not.
Also, I found the student use of social networking stats very interesting, and also full of ideas for educators. Using social networks to create virtual objects? Or how about participating in collaborative projects? Interesting stuff.
The report also suggests that the Internet is also not as dangerous as the news makes it seem. Only 0.08% of teens report that they have met someone in person from an online encounter without parental permission. To that I say – so what? Just because parents gave the permission, it’s automatically safe? Not true. Also, we’re talking about self-reported data here. No matter how you promise to a teen that you won’t share this data with parents, I think fear of getting busted, or even the desire to make the Internet look safer so parents will ‘chill out’ (or what ever the correct lingo is now-a-days), would skew the data significantly.
Also in the report is some great statistics and suggestions for teachers and administrators.
Matt is currently an Instructional Designer II at Orbis Education and a Part-Time Instructor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Previously he worked as a Learning Innovation Researcher with the UT Arlington LINK Research Lab. His work focuses on learning theory, Heutagogy, and learner agency. Matt holds a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies from the University of North Texas, a Master of Education in Educational Technology from UT Brownsville, and a Bachelors of Science in Education from Baylor University. His research interests include instructional design, learning pathways, sociocultural theory, heutagogy, virtual reality, and open networked learning. He has a background in instructional design and teaching at both the secondary and university levels and has been an active blogger and conference presenter. He also enjoys networking and collaborative efforts involving faculty, students, administration, and anyone involved in the education process.