Digital Smarts Blog

The State Education Technology Directors Association and Common Sense Kids Action recently released a new report entitled State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity and Access that proposes the states should take the lead in expanding access to high-speed internet in schools. "Something is wrong when coffee shops have faster internet connections than most of our schools," James Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, says.

The State Education Technology Directors Association and Common Sense Kids Action recently released a new report entitled State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity and Access that proposes the states should take the lead in expanding access to high-speed internet in schools. "Something is wrong when coffee shops have faster internet connections than most of our schools," James Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, says.

Are you or your children reading digital books or textbooks using the iBooks app? Did you know there is a way to save and print the items you have highlighted or the notes you have saved as you read the book? Take a look at this step-by-step list of how to do it.

Are you or your children reading digital books or textbooks using the iBooks app? Did you know there is a way to save and print the items you have highlighted or the notes you have saved as you read the book? Take a look at this step-by-step list of how to do it.

There is evidence that kids respond more creatively when listening to audio stories than watching video. Studios show that audio stories have prompted kids to draw more novel pictures, think up more unique questions, and solve problems in a more imaginative way than did TV tales. Research further supports the benefits of audio learning for children. When words are spoken aloud, kids can understand and engage with ideas that are two to three grade-levels higher than their reading level would normally allow. With all of this research, you might find yourself asking - why aren’t there more podcasts for kids?

There is little precedent for offering podcasts for children. Media Producer Lindsay Patterson recently posted a list of podcasts you can listen to with your kids that could be worth exploring for riding in cars, downtime before bed, and other gaps in existing routines. Podcasts are also a great way to get kids away from screens and to use their ears rather than their eyes – a great learning skill that can help them in school and beyond.

There is evidence that kids respond more creatively when listening to audio stories than watching video. Studios show that audio stories have prompted kids to draw more novel pictures, think up more unique questions, and solve problems in a more imaginative way than did TV tales. Research further supports the benefits of audio learning for children. When words are spoken aloud, kids can understand and engage with ideas that are two to three grade-levels higher than their reading level would normally allow. With all of this research, you might find yourself asking - why aren’t there more podcasts for kids?

There is little precedent for offering podcasts for children. Media Producer Lindsay Patterson recently posted a list of podcasts you can listen to with your kids that could be worth exploring for riding in cars, downtime before bed, and other gaps in existing routines. Podcasts are also a great way to get kids away from screens and to use their ears rather than their eyes – a great learning skill that can help them in school and beyond.

The Federal Communications Commission is officially proposing to begin regulating how Internet service providers (ISPs) handle user privacy. The agency is looking to restrict the companies' ability to share with advertisers and other third parties the information they collect about what their customers do online. Opponents voiced concerns that pursuing a new privacy framework that will impose onerous requirements on broadband providers and will mistakenly leave consumers with the impression that they are receiving meaningful new protections.

The Federal Communications Commission is officially proposing to begin regulating how Internet service providers (ISPs) handle user privacy. The agency is looking to restrict the companies' ability to share with advertisers and other third parties the information they collect about what their customers do online. Opponents voiced concerns that pursuing a new privacy framework that will impose onerous requirements on broadband providers and will mistakenly leave consumers with the impression that they are receiving meaningful new protections.

The most recent development in the story of searching the San Bernardino terrorist’s cell phone is that the FBI has unlocked the iPhone without Apple’s help. This discovery has many users asking how they can make themselves less hackable. Experts say using a complex, alphanumeric passcode as opposed to a simple numeric pin on their phones is the key. Information on how to lock a phone with a passcode longer than six digits is available on Apple's website.

The most recent development in the story of searching the San Bernardino terrorist’s cell phone is that the FBI has unlocked the iPhone without Apple’s help. This discovery has many users asking how they can make themselves less hackable. Experts say using a complex, alphanumeric passcode as opposed to a simple numeric pin on their phones is the key. Information on how to lock a phone with a passcode longer than six digits is available on Apple's website.

Besides now requiring identification photos when students register for the ACT and SAT, Educational Testing Services (the company that administers the SAT) is supplying a wand detector to proctors to see if a test taker is carrying a cell phone. One of the biggest security threats during testing is the use of cell phones that can be used for looking up answers, texting others test information, and taking photos of test pages. The ACT also has a hotline for students to report concerns about breaches, such as copying or test theft. 

Besides now requiring identification photos when students register for the ACT and SAT, Educational Testing Services (the company that administers the SAT) is supplying a wand detector to proctors to see if a test taker is carrying a cell phone. One of the biggest security threats during testing is the use of cell phones that can be used for looking up answers, texting others test information, and taking photos of test pages. The ACT also has a hotline for students to report concerns about breaches, such as copying or test theft. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics has had a long standing policy on children and media, discouraging any screen time for children under 2 and limiting screen time to two hours a day for older children. New questions about those recommendations are being raised and those guidelines are now under review.  Regardless of what changes might be coming to the recommendations, most experts agree parents need to make sure to create a couple of hours of high-quality offline time each day. As one expert definitively put it “Media violence will never be good for kids; sexual content at a young age will never be good for kids; first-person shooter games will never be good for kids. The research is very clear, and it will never change.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics has had a long standing policy on children and media, discouraging any screen time for children under 2 and limiting screen time to two hours a day for older children. New questions about those recommendations are being raised and those guidelines are now under review.  Regardless of what changes might be coming to the recommendations, most experts agree parents need to make sure to create a couple of hours of high-quality offline time each day. As one expert definitively put it “Media violence will never be good for kids; sexual content at a young age will never be good for kids; first-person shooter games will never be good for kids. The research is very clear, and it will never change.”

A group of researchers from Princeton University, Rutgers University and Yale University has found that when students are the ones to take a stand against bullying – as opposed to teachers or parents – it is significantly more impactful. Schools may have more success curbing incidents of bullying if their most social students take an anti-bullying stance. Over the course of the 2012-2013 school year, 56 New Jersey middle schools armed their most influential students with social media training and various bullying awareness gear, like bright-colored wrist bands, and saw a 30 percent reduction in student conflict reports. Notably, the greatest drop in conflict was observed among the schools with the highest proportion of social influencers, supporting the researchers' hypothesis that these students exert an outsized influence over school climate.

A group of researchers from Princeton University, Rutgers University and Yale University has found that when students are the ones to take a stand against bullying – as opposed to teachers or parents – it is significantly more impactful. Schools may have more success curbing incidents of bullying if their most social students take an anti-bullying stance. Over the course of the 2012-2013 school year, 56 New Jersey middle schools armed their most influential students with social media training and various bullying awareness gear, like bright-colored wrist bands, and saw a 30 percent reduction in student conflict reports. Notably, the greatest drop in conflict was observed among the schools with the highest proportion of social influencers, supporting the researchers' hypothesis that these students exert an outsized influence over school climate.

Despite having a bad reputation as being a tool for cyberbullies, Snapchat (the messaging app where the pictures and videos you send disappear after they are opened) is starting to find its way into schools with a more positive purpose. Some schools are experimenting with using SnapChat to connect with students and parents because of its popularity with young adults. Teachers can post reminders about assignments and class announcements on a platform that the students use the most.

Despite having a bad reputation as being a tool for cyberbullies, Snapchat (the messaging app where the pictures and videos you send disappear after they are opened) is starting to find its way into schools with a more positive purpose. Some schools are experimenting with using SnapChat to connect with students and parents because of its popularity with young adults. Teachers can post reminders about assignments and class announcements on a platform that the students use the most.

Thinking about a game console for your kids these days is complicated. There are the traditional machines like Microsoft's Xbox One or Xbox 360; Sony's PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 3; and Nintendo's Wii U. There are also set-top boxes (also called Internet TVs or "media players") such as the Apple TV and the Roku, and gaming-optimized systems such as the Nvidia Shield Android TV and the Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition. If you need help making a decision, take a look at Common Sense Media’s recommendations in an article entitled “What's the Best Game Console for Kids?”

Thinking about a game console for your kids these days is complicated. There are the traditional machines like Microsoft's Xbox One or Xbox 360; Sony's PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 3; and Nintendo's Wii U. There are also set-top boxes (also called Internet TVs or "media players") such as the Apple TV and the Roku, and gaming-optimized systems such as the Nvidia Shield Android TV and the Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition. If you need help making a decision, take a look at Common Sense Media’s recommendations in an article entitled “What's the Best Game Console for Kids?”