Media Free Living Spaces Week 3

5/12/10 - So far, I love having a media free space. Unfortunately, this is not a feeling the rest of my family is sharing. My husband says he's not going crazy but he isn't saying he likes living without 'in-coming' media either. One son acts as though we've taken on an Amish lifestyle and my daughter says it stinks. My other child seems to enjoy our daily treks to the library.

While I have to admit that loading up our lap tops, school books, snacks and drinks is a chore, the process is not bothering me as much as I thought it would. Again, though it is hard to delay gratification when I think of a book I want to order but can't because I am no longer connected at home and don't have access to online book stores, I have managed. In like manner, when I long to gather more electronic resources for my digital library, I wait and I have learned that planning has become paramount.

Still, the positives far out weigh the negatives in my opinion. When I think about the aforementioned struggles and want to modify or cancel our experiment, I remember the peace I have at knowing pornography cannot slip into my house electronically. Advertisements for pornography do not lurk in the virtual periphery. Inappropriate or adult video is not coming into my house via DISH or another network. Knowing these things gives me determination to see this through.

A few things I've noticed to date. First, media negotiations are nearly nonexistent. For example, I do not have to wrestle anyone away from XBox, television or Facebook in order to get them to bed at a decent hour. For the first time in what seems like decades, my son came to me and said he was going to bed. He also mentioned that I need to buy the second book in a series written by Frank Peretti as he finished one of his books in two days this week. More reading? I do not mind this at all! We are also cooking together more, talking more and we are walking the dogs more. And, finally, it seems that we are getting some neglected home projects taken care of.

For me, I continue to struggle with the importance of knowing how to use the tools. Young (2008) mentions seven relevant points when considering the impact of the internet on the learner:

a). over time, the internet has evolved as a cognitive tool which is reflective of today's society

- at both the local and global levels;

b). access to, and subsequent mastery of, the internet exposes individuals to the rules,

values, and beliefs evident in today's global society;

c). the internet is a tool which promotes goal-directed activities (motivated by either the

user's own goals or the goals imposed by others);

d). engagement with the internet allows one to access and contribute to distributed

knowledge across society;

e). engagement with the internet develops mastery of the tool - a merging between user and

the internet;

f). cognitive tools, such as the internet, have the power to transform individual cognitive

processes and learner attitudes and behaviours;

g). individual actions using the internet have the power to influence its further development

and use - the internet will continue to grow and evolve to reflect changes in society (p.

177-178).

These points make me wonder.....One, could we have a home that is unplugged yet still use these tools masterfully? Second, if the internet is a reflection of societal attitudes, rules and beliefs, do we agree with these? If we don't agree, why? And, if we don't agree because our values are different, are we neglectful if we don't join the community to ensure a number of value systems are represented. I do not want to isolate. I want to protect children and use these powerful tools wisely.

Young, K. (2008). Toward a model for the study of children's informal

Internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(2), 173-184.