#Digital Literacy for Kids

[childrenofthedigitalage]

Protecting Children Online: Lessons from the Tragic Alexander McCartney Case

One of the more distressing incidents making headlines in Ireland and Northern Ireland yesterday, was that of the convicted paedophile Alexander McCartney.  A Newry resident, he is now facing what could be considered a lenient sentencing for his involvement in the tragic death of a 12-year-old girl. Also the subsequent death of her father who took his own life following the online sexual…

[voguegenics]

Why Kids Love Minecraft and Fortnite: A Parenting Perspective

Minecraft and Fortnite may be two sides of the same gaming coin, but both offer valuable lessons for our kids in creativity, teamwork, and digital literacy

Ah, here we are again in 2024, watching as our kids dive headfirst into the pixelated worlds of Minecraft and Fortnite like it’s the new Olympic sport. As a seasoned mom (and proud owner of an extensive collection of questionable parenting choices), I can’t help but scratch my head and ask: what is it about these games that has our kids glued to their screens while we reminisce about the good ol’…

[hybrid-vigour]

Spring into Storytime 🦋

Poster created to promote Spring Into Storytime at Cork City Libraries, a programme encouraging childhood reading and literacy which is part of the Right To Read campaign spearheaded by Libraries Ireland.

This poster features @corkcitylibraries Children's Library mascot Red and his friend Daert'nod the goblin, splashing through the springtime puddles with their books in tow! There is also a chatty bunny and a studious frog.

[artbyeritza]

And yes, I'm talking about the recent popular media I consumed by the name of Cyberpunk Edgerunners and Reverse 1999. There are a lot of other creative media that do this, too. I would simply chalk it up to a difference of culture because I had talked to some Russians, Ukrainians, and Chinese minors online and the sexual things they knew at a young age aren't something to be alarmed of. Japanese kids and teens are pretty sexual too. My cause of worry as the adult at the end of the conversation is that their sexual knowledge isn't from any sort of sex education. Circling back to fandom culture and pop media, I really thought some of the games I play and movies I watch are for adults or at least the characters are aged up. I would have a fun time enjoying content...until I look it up and see their ages. Sigh, this is why I only like to draw original art...

[neolithicastronaut]

Using the internet really is just like: let me search for some basic information uh oh every website directly contradicts one another and each site looks about as disreputable as the other, plus i can only read a sentence at a time before another invasive ad takes up the screen. Now I am even more confused.

[kids-worldfun]

How to Teach Kids the Dos and Don'ts of Social Media Posting

Teaching children the appropriate and inappropriate ways to post on social media cannot be overstated. Instilling healthy internet behaviors in children at a young age enables them to navigate the digital environment responsibly. The empowerment of children with these abilities is vital for their online well-being. In this parenting blog, we will discuss practical methods that may be used to…

[strategiadvizo]

Transforming Education: Unleash the Potential of Your Students with Strategia Advizo's Vocational Courses

Introduction: In today’s rapidly evolving world, the traditional education system faces the challenge of keeping up with the pace of technological advancements and changing job landscapes. At Strategia Advizo, we believe in empowering the next generation with the skills they need to navigate and succeed in the 21st century. Our suite of vocational courses, designed specifically for CBSE schools…

[erinthesails]

I have to say, the unfortunate thing about classrooms that emphasize digital learning is that the Google results for any given book or story now invariably include like 40 different Prezi final projects by a college freshman, or like "Miss Samuels's 9th grade English Class Website 2021-2022". Like no offense to miss Samuels and her students but when I'm looking for analysis and discussion about a story I'm not usually looking for a source that defines vocab words at the bottom

[bubblewater]

If it starts in one state, it will spread to other states

Don’t let them take a mile by allowing them to move an inch

AO3 IS IN TROUBLE IF CALIFORNIAN AGE VERIFICATION LAW PASSES

An upcoming Age verification bill centered in California will be voted on Monday-- And as always,instead of actually protecting kids, it will lead to more online censorship and privacy risks, as it will force websites hosting to verify their users age by sending their ID, your browser history would be linked to it. if you live California, call your reps and tell them to oppose the bill AB3080 as it highly unconstitutional.

They also deem LGBT content harmful to minors, as well as mentions of weapons and tobacco, putting them on the same level as NSFW content.

Since AO3 headquarters reside in California, much like Reddit, Twitter,Discord and Youtube (and others) who knows how bad the effects would be. Instead of just effecting Californians (even then its concerning.) the effects would be US or even worldwide. VPNs wont help.

Please take actions here (a script is included to help you) https://www.defendonlineprivacy.com/ca/action.php

Find your rep here https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

You can also send faxes using this https://faxzero.com/

If you don't live in California, please talk about this,tag your friends and urge others to take actions, make posts and tweets using the hashtags AB3080 and NoOnAB3080

More info HERE

[gwmac]

Top 25 Educational Apps for Students: Enhancing Learning in the Digital Age

Introduction In an era where technology seamlessly integrates into every aspect of our lives, education is no exception. The digital revolution has ushered in an abundance of tools and resources that have transformed the way students learn, engage, and grow intellectually. These digital tools, ranging from comprehensive educational platforms to specialized apps, offer unparalleled flexibility and…

[kidsinnowadays]

How to Master the Art of Screen Time: 5 Mind-Blowing Hacks to Keep Your Kids

Discover innovative techniques to strike a healthy balance in your children's screen time, ensuring both technology engagement and real-world experiences. #ScreenTimeBalance #ParentingHacks #TechAwareness #ChildDevelopment

Navigating the Digital Age In today’s digital age, screens have become an integral part of our lives, and our children are growing up in a world where smartphones, tablets, and computers are the norm. While technology offers many benefits, it also poses challenges, especially when it comes to managing screen time for our kids. As parents, we strive to find the right balance between harnessing…

[makers-muse]

Preparing Future Generations for a Tech-Driven World: Why Digital Literacy Matters

In an age where technology reigns supreme, preparing future generations for a tech-driven world has become paramount. The Significance Of Digital Literacy cannot be overstated, as it forms the bedrock upon which the success and adaptability of these generations will rest.

Digital literacy extends far beyond the surface-level understanding of gadgets and interfaces. It entails a comprehensive grasp of the digital landscape, encompassing the ability to navigate complex software, analyze data, and discern credible online information. This skill set will empower individuals to thrive in an era where Digital Fluency is synonymous with opportunity.

With the rapid advancement of automation and artificial intelligence, it is estimated that up to 85 million jobs could be displaced by 2025. However, this unsettling statistic comes with a silver lining – an array of new, tech-centric roles will emerge, driving demand for digitally adept professionals.

Digital literacy not only opens doors to Future Careers but also fuels innovation. Consider the case of a teenager who developed a ground-breaking mobile app to connect farmers directly with consumers, eliminating middlemen and increasing profits. This exemplifies how digital literacy nurtures innovative thinking and encourages proactive problem-solving.

Imagine a world where every child can Code. With digital literacy integrated into education, this vision is attainable. From coding basics to website design, students gain insights into the building blocks of technology, enabling them to interact with and shape the digital universe.

A poignant fact is that while 60% of all new jobs require skills possessed by only 20% of the workforce, fostering digital literacy can help bridge this gap. Future generations of technologically competent people will pave the way for Economic Advancement by fostering innovation and propelling societies into the digital era.

Yet, Comprehensive digital literacy is a journey that requires collaboration. It requires a collaborative effort between parents, educators, and policymakers. By imparting digital skills early on, parents set their children on a path to success in an increasingly digital society. Equally pivotal is the role of educators, who must embrace Technology as a tool for interactive learning, ensuring that students develop the digital competence they need.

Did you know that 70% of internet users globally are active Social Media users? This statistic highlights the inescapable presence of the digital realm in our lives. Navigating this space safely and critically is a vital aspect of digital literacy. By understanding online privacy, cyber threats, and digital etiquette, individuals can safeguard themselves and contribute to a responsible digital community.

Digital literacy is essential to prepare future generations for a world driven by technology. This transformative skill set gives people the ability to take opportunities, adapt to changing environments, and participate in a technologically advanced society.

As we embrace the digital era, let us collectively invest in nurturing digital literacy – a beacon guiding us toward a prosperous future. "Digital literacy is the bridge to the future. It empowers people to create, understand, and navigate the digital world, and to responsibly and critically engage with technology for the betterment of themselves and society." - Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

[guiasmaternos]

Cultivating Digital Skills in a Connected Generation

Discover how to cultivate strong digital skills in children. This comprehensive guide explores strategies to empower the modern generation in a digital world.

We live in an era where digital technology pervades nearly every aspect of our lives. And in this context, children are growing up surrounded by digital devices and online media. As parents, educators, and caregivers, it’s our responsibility to equip them with the confidence to navigate the technological world that awaits them. Welcome to a comprehensive guide on how to raise a digitally skilled…

[animentality]

not to be such a boomer, but I think chatgpt is fucking this generation over, at least in terms of critical thinking and creative skills.

I get that it's easy to use and I probably would've used it if I was in school when it came out.

but damn.

y'all can't just write a fucking email?

also people using it to write essays ... i mean what is the point then?

are you gaming the educational system in pursuit of survival, or are you just unwilling to engage critically with anyone or anything?

is this why media literacy is so fucking ass right now?

learning how to write is learning how to express yourself and communicate with others.

you might not be great at it, but writing can help you rearrange the ideas in your brain. the more you try to articulate yourself, the more you understand yourself. all skills can be honed with time, and the value is not in the product. it's in the process.

it's in humans expressing their thoughts to others, in an attempt to improve how we do things, by building upon foundations and evolving old ideas into innovation.

scraping together a mush of ideas from a software that pulls specific, generic phrases from data made by actual humans... what is that going to teach you or anyone else?

it's just old ideas being recycled by a new generation.

a generation I am seriously concerned about, because digital tests have made it very easy to cheat, which means people aren't just throwing away their critical thinking and problem solving abilities, but foundational knowledge too.

like what the hell is anyone going to know in the future? you don't want to make art, you don't want to understand how the world works, you don't want to know about the history of us?

is it because we all know it's ending soon anyway, or is it just because it's difficult, and we don't want to bother with difficult?

maybe it's both.

but. you know what? on that note, maybe it's whatever.

fuck it, right, let's just have an AI generate "therefore" "in conclusion" and "in addition" statements followed by simplistic ideas copy pasted from a kid who actually wrote a paper thirty years ago.

if climate change is killing us all anyway, maybe generative ai is a good thing.

maybe it'll be a digital archive of who we used to be, a shambling corpse that remains long after the consequences of our decisions catch up with us.

maybe it'll be smart enough to talk to itself when there's no one left to talk to.

it'll talk to itself in phrases we once valued, it'll make art derived from people who used to be alive and breathing and feeling, it'll regurgitate our best ideas in an earnest but hollow approximation of our species.

and it'll be the best thing we ever made. the last thing too.

I don't really believe in fate or destiny, I think all of this was a spectacular bit of luck, but that's a poetic end for us.

chatgpt does poetry.

[spocks-kaathyra]

thoughts about the Cardassian writing system

I've thinking about the Cardassian script as shown on screen and in beta canon and such and like. Is it just me or would it be very difficult to write by hand?? Like.

I traced some of this image for a recent drawing I did and like. The varying line thicknesses?? The little rectangular holes?? It's not at all intuitive to write by hand. Even if you imagine, like, a different writing implement—I suppose a chisel-tip pen would work better—it still seems like it wasn't meant to be handwritten. Which has a few possible explanations.

Like, maybe it's just a fancy font for computers, and handwritten text looks a little different. Times New Roman isn't very easily written by hand either, right? Maybe the line thickness differences are just decorative, and it's totally possible to convey the same orthographic information with the two line thicknesses of a chisel-tip pen, or with no variation in line thickness at all.

A more interesting explanation, though, and the one I thought of first, is that this writing system was never designed to be handwritten. This is a writing system developed in Cardassia's digital age. Maybe the original Cardassian script didn’t digitize well, so they invented a new one specifically for digital use? Like, when they invented coding, they realized that their writing system didn’t work very well for that purpose. I know next to nothing about coding, but I cannot imagine doing it using Chinese characters. So maybe they came up with a new writing system that worked well for that purpose, and when computer use became widespread, they stuck with it. 

Or maybe the script was invented for political reasons! Maybe Cardassia was already fairly technologically advanced when the Cardassian Union was formed, and, to reinforce a cohesive national identity, they developed a new standardized national writing system. Like, y'know, the First Emperor of Qin standardizing hanzi when he unified China, or that Korean king inventing hangul. Except that at this point in Cardassian history, all official records were digital and typing was a lot more common than handwriting, so the new script was designed to be typed and not written. Of course, this reform would be slower to reach the more rural parts of Cardassia, and even in a technologically advanced society, there are people who don't have access to that technology. But I imagine the government would be big on infrastructure and education, and would make sure all good Cardassian citizens become literate. And old regional scripts would stop being taught in schools and be phased out of digital use and all the kids would grow up learning the digital script.

Which is good for the totalitarian government! Imagine you can only write digitally. On computers. That the government can monitor. If you, like, write a physical letter and send it to someone, then it's possible for the contents to stay totally private. But if you send an email, it can be very easily intercepted. Especially if the government is controlling which computers can be manufactured and sold, and what software is in widespread use, etc. 

AND. Historical documents are now only readable for scholars. Remember that Korean king that invented hangul? Before him, Korea used to use Chinese characters too. And don't get me wrong, hangul is a genius writing system! It fits the Korean language so much better than Chinese characters did! It increased literacy at incredible rates! But by switching writing systems, they broke that historical link. The average literate Chinese person can read texts that are thousands of years old. The average literate Korean person can't. They'd have to specifically study that field, learn a whole new writing system. So with the new generation of Cardassian youths unable to read historical texts, it's much easier for the government to revise history. The primary source documents are in a script that most people can't read. You just trust the translation they teach you in school. In ASIT it's literally a crucial plot point that the Cardassian government revised history! Wouldn't it make it soooo much easier for them if only very few people can actually read the historical accounts of what happened.

I guess I am thinking of this like Chinese characters. Like, all the different Chinese "dialects" being written with hanzi, even though otherwise they could barely be considered the same language. And even non-Sinitic languages that historically adopted hanzi, like Japanese and Korean and Vietnamese. Which worked because hanzi is a logography—it encodes meaning, not sound, so the same word in different languages can be written the same. It didn’t work well! Nowadays, Japanese has made significant modifications and Korean has invented a new writing system entirely and Vietnamese has adapted a different foreign writing system, because while hanzi could write their languages, it didn’t do a very good job at it. But the Cardassian government probably cares more about assimilation and national unity than making things easier for speakers of minority languages. So, Cardassia used to have different cultures with different languages, like the Hebitians, and maybe instead of the Union forcing everyone to start speaking the same language, they just made everyone use the same writing system. Though that does seem less likely than them enforcing a standard language like the Federation does. Maybe they enforce a standard language, and invent the new writing system to increase literacy for people who are newly learning it.

And I can imagine it being a kind of purely digital language for some people? Like if you’re living on a colonized planet lightyears away from Cardassia Prime and you never have to speak Cardassian, but your computer’s interface is in Cardassian and if you go online then everyone there uses Cardassian. Like people irl who participate in the anglophone internet but don’t really use English in person because they don’t live in an anglophone country. Except if English were a logographic writing system that you could use to write your own language. And you can’t handwrite it, if for whatever reason you wanted to. Almost a similar idea to a liturgical language? Like, it’s only used in specific contexts and not really in daily life. In daily life you’d still speak your own language, and maybe even handwrite it when needed. I think old writing systems would survive even closer to the imperial core (does it make sense to call it that?), though the government would discourage it. I imagine there’d be a revival movement after the Fire, not only because of the cultural shift away from the old totalitarian Cardassia, but because people realize the importance of having a written communication system that doesn’t rely on everyone having a padd and electricity and wifi.