Kindergartners are learning how to communicate in a concise manner through Twitter. Early childhood educators are teaching entire classes how to tweet and have created classroom networks for students on Twiducate, a social network devoted to schools and teaching environments.
Twiducate.com is a free resource for educators that was developed in 2009. The overaching goal of the platform is to create a medium for teachers and students to continue their learning outside the classroom. Only teachers and students may view classroom posts so that there is a safer online learning environment.
We reported earlier that the FTC was making it easier for children to interface with the internet and discussed the necessity of parental monitoring. But kids are having a blast with their increasing freedom to access technology and communicate in different ways.
According to Mary Long, a writer for Mediabistro, kids are finding new ways to play using these platforms and finds that they are: “A safer, online, social homebase for kids under 13 . . . where kids can connect with friends, play games, share pictures, send messages, discover new talents, learn and have fun. Everloop’s state-of-the-art privacy protection and monitoring technology guard young users against bullying, bad language and inappropriate sharing of information.”
Everloop‘s website defines the forum as a “safer social network for kids [that] revolutionizes the way kids under 13 connect online. Unlike other social networking sites for kids, Everloop provides a unique, age-appropriate social media experience for children with customized micro-networks or “loops” that safely connect kid-relevant content, services, applications and experiences. With kids games online, safe email and kids chat, Everloop is the kids social network where tweens can have fun on the internet and safely be kids as long as possible.”
The move to make kids tech savvy is crucial because students will need social networking, blogging and basic internet skills to compete in the business world.
What kinds of issues do you think educators and parents will face with these increasingly popular sites? What do you perceive are the benefits for children interfacing in this way?