Aug 01 2019
1441

           As there are two sides to a coin, there are two sides to any discussion. Today, we will be discussing about the benefits of digitization on adolescents of this era. First, you might ask “What is digitization?” Digitization is the process in which information is converted into a digital format.


           In this era, adolescents are enclosed in a digital abode or The digitization of media through Broadcast (Traditional) Media, such as television are superseded by new digital technologies, like Social Media. These help promote a more interaction engagement than what a traditional media can provide. As a result, it allows an easier instant access to information, knowledge, and social contact. Research shows that it also helps enhance memory and comprehension. We can see how digitization benefits children and have a more proactive approach to both learning, and gathering information. 



        There are both positive and negative impacts of Social Media. Focusing on the positive aspects, we can see that Social Media is an essential aspect of the development of children. For example, children can develop cognitive skills by engaging in more complex tasks at a younger stage in their lives. 


More positive aspects of Digital Media: 

  • Increased Digital Media Literacy: gathering knowledge whilst doing online activities 
  • Having an overall Collaborative Learning: formally/ informally gathering educational content by using Social Media
  • Acclimating into different mediums: being “creative” by getting influenced by other creatives, as a result increasing your knowledge 
  • Finding likeminded individuals with common ground 
  • New Generation Learning: overcoming barriers to learning for children with learning needs 
  • Getting access to information and seek solutions to problems affecting their communities
  • Digitization (the future of education): create opportunities for personalised learning, such as e-learning and to access a wide range of educational and learning content that was unavailable to previous generations of adolescents.
  • Expanding access to high-quality educational content, including textbooks, video material and remote instruction, and at a much lower cost than in the past.
  • Digitization Education: opening access to learning opportunities for children around the world, especially those in remote regions, and provide adequate guidance and support, especially for children on the move, excluded children and those living with disabilities.
  • New Generation School: has an enormous potential to extend the reach and improve the quality of education.
  • How digitization helps: provides opportunities for young people to build digital capabilities.
  • Allows to recompense inequities in young people’s access to such experiences in their lives outside school.
  • New Generation Education: taking part in Virtual Classrooms (Cloud based), like Google Docs.
  • The era of enlightenment: using the voice communication by students enable most of them to aid gain the confidence or credibility of social and in the communities.
  • Having the ability to virtually “inhabit” impressively produced worlds and interact with other users in remote locations.
  • Having the ability to express yourself and having freedom of speech allow personal growth.
  • Digitization Tools: developing the skill of problem-solving and critical thinking skills through the use of social media through apps, and games. 

The digitalization trends are enabling adolescents to develop a native intelligence and fluency with digital technologies that previous generations did not have. If leveraged in the right way, the digitization transformation can be a game changer for children being left behind – whether because of poverty, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, geographic isolation by connecting them to a world of opportunity and providing them with the skills they need to succeed in a digital world. 


        Like every advancement, there needs to be boundaries in certain areas, when it comes to social media for children. 


        Children need that online and off because they carry those boundaries and their underlying assumptions into adulthood, giving them a better chance of using social media in healthier ways. They need to be taught early how to use digitization in a healthy and safe manner. Depending on a child’s age, characteristics, how they “use media”, and the media content will impact the child differently. Since they are a highly integral part of our society, we need to focus depending on benefit’s to children’s learning and development and guide them to the correct way of using digitization for their benefits.



        Also, excluding children and young people from the digital environment is not an option. It is vital for a 21st century juvenile to access and benefit from the opportunities it offers. To do so, they must have the skills and knowledge to navigate this environment but, more importantly, for it to be responsive to cater their needs at all ages and stages of their development.


References


  1. Digital.hbs.edu. (2019). “Mom, Dad, I’m bored!” – How Digitization affects our Children’s Education? – Technology and Operations Management. [online] Available at: https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/submission/mom-dad-im-bored-how-digitization-affects-our-childrens-education/ [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].

  2. Digital.hbs.edu. (2019). “Mom, Dad, I’m bored!” – How Digitization affects our Children’s Education? – Technology and Operations Management. [online] Available at: https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/submission/mom-dad-im-bored-how-digitization-affects-our-childrens-education/ [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].

  3. Office of Educational Technology. (2019). Learning – Office of Educational Technology. [online] Available at: https://tech.ed.gov/netp/learning/ [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].

  4. Mancall-Bitel, N. (2019). How can a distracted generation learn anything? [online] Bbc.com. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190220-how-can-a-distracted-generation-learn-anything [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019]

  5. beBee Producer. (2019). Benefits and dangers for children using social networks. [online] Available at: https://www.bebee.com/producer/@juan-imaz/benefits-and-dangers-for-children-using-social-networks [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].

  6. TeachThought. (2019). The Pros & Cons of Children On Social Media – TeachThought. [online] Available at: https://www.teachthought.com/technology/the-pros-cons-of-children-on-social-media/ [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].

  7. Pediatrics.aappublications.org. (2019). [online] Available at: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2016/10/19/peds.2016-2593.full.pdf [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].

  8. Raising Children Network. (2019). Social media benefits and risks: children and teenagers. [online] Available at: https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/entertainment-technology/digital-life/social-media [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].

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