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US academic and writer on communication media, Howard Rheingold, spoke at education.au's final national seminar in Melbourne on 2 October 2007.
Rheingold on children's internet use
In his seminar presentation, Rheingold talked about parents' fears about their children's use of the internet and other online technologies.
In opposition to the Federal Government's provision of internet filters for parents to install on their home computers, Rheingold recommends parents should educate their children about safe internet use. He says that, by censoring, 'you are not encouraging a good relationship with your child':
'There is a real fear that parents have that their kids are knowledgeable about the technology and they are not. The answer has to do with trust and communication – talk to your kids about what they are doing online.'
'We teach our kids how to cross the street and what to be careful about in the physical world. And now parents need to teach their kids how to exercise good sense online.
'It's really no more technical than reminding your children not to give out their personal information to strangers on the telephone or the street.'
The internet as a learning tool
In his seminar presentation Rheingold also discussed the role of internet and communication technologies in teaching children essential literacy skills:
'When it comes to helping them learn how to be citizens in a democracy, media literacy education is central to 21st century civic education. If you want to be a citizen, a productive member of society, you're going to have to learn to operate in that environment – and that's to learn a critical attitude to information.'
Read Howard Rheingold's education.au keynote presentation.
Read The Sydney Morning Herald's 'Sack the net nanny, talk to your kids'.
Further reading
Read these related news items on Early Childhood Australia's website:
Visit these related areas of Early Childhood Australia's Supporting Best Practice web directory:
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