The other night when I was putting my eight-year-old daughter to bed, we read the usual couple of stories but then, things took a turn for the worse. She began talking about her best friend, Liam, from whom she was currently separated by the 5449 miles between Berlin and Hong Kong. The tears flowed freely as she talked about her friend. If only she could see him, could we spend our summer there? Can he come to Berlin for October holidays? Christmas, her birthday? If only…
To ease the pain of missing her best friend, we arranged for them to talk over Skype the following weekend. What ensued was much more than a phone call. It became a 21st century play-date.
They began quietly, shyly, exchanging pleasantries and getting reacquainted. I left them to it and went about my Saturday chores. My wife called me upstairs about a half-hour later so I could see what was happening. By this time Liam had already played a couple of tunes on his guitar for Izzy. Now, they were engaged in cooperative play with a Ben10 meme. Liam had a kit of creator parts spread out before their web cam and Izzy was telling him which parts to put together to create the alien she dreamed up. I left them to it.
When I next checked in Izzy “carried” Liam downstairs to show him her room. Izzy was sitting with her sketch book and was drawing a scene as Liam described it to her. Talk about a great exercise for listening, giving clear directions, interactive art. To them it was just play, doing what you naturally do when connected to your best friend half way around the world. Again, I left them to it.
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When I finally went back to suggest that three hours was enough screen time on a beautiful Saturday, they were playing their PSPs. They had both decided on a common game and had counted down to start at the same time so they were playing “together.” As they played they checked in with each other to see where they were, trading hints and laughs the whole time.
This digital play date epitomizes the real wonder and potential of all this technology to create global connections, enhance creativity, enable learning. It made me wonder if all our attempts to structure and organize technology experiences in school are somehow missing the point. The tools don’t have to be complex and each network-enabled interaction doesn’t have to have a purpose beyond connecting kids. Lets keep it simple, connect them, and get out of the way, letting them do what comes natural as they invent, create, play, and learn.
Jeff- Great posts. Two points I want to hit on:
1) I couldn’t agree more about giving kids the digital opportunity and then back out of their way. There have been numerous times my students have amazed me by letting their uncluttered minds take technology in a different direction than what it was originally created for. It goes right along with Sugata Mitra’s Tedtalk on a child-driven education. Teachers need to give up control to let creativity flow.
2) Digital Playdates. One of my students moved from Hong Kong back to the states a few years ago. We would set up a skype time for her to talk to the kids during our morning recess. The kids would talk to her as if she hadn’t left. They would play Uno or write stories together through google docs while talking on skype. She would also skype in for class parties. The kids would workout the details of time differences and schedules. Overall, they felt connected. International schools are so transient it’s hard for some kids to develop a sense of what a long term friendship means or feels like. Kids just need the opportunities to do so.
It’s almost like an “accidental invention”. It’s a wonderful example of when the “users” of the tool went way beyond the scope of possibilities that the “makers” of the tool probably intended.
Yeah, that’s one of the exciting things about technology and why, I contend, we need less controlled “technology lessons” and more learning opportunities to deploy the tech in new and inventive ways. Thanks for the comment.
HHHmmmmmmmm……..first congrats on having a blog with comment spaces! First thoughts look at it as the 21st century penpal system. Then I think historically (as I’m wont to do), how this sort of thing might have propelled 19th century scientists like Darwin, Lyell, Wallace et al. Ultimately, our only boundaries are artificial ones drawn by governments or slow telecom service;-)
ps Is this really that different from the second life universe you mock?
Here’s a question, would have Wallace been able to scoop Darwin had the Internet existed at that time? I think it’s really interesting now how ideas, timing (open publishers allow you to publish to a global audience quickly) and traditional publishing processes like peer review are changing with these new tools.
Also, I am not opposed to Second Life entirely, just would like to see more tech infused learning opportunities in our first life. This Skype call wasn’t a “virtual interaction” the laughs, play and learning where all as real is it gets.
When can we try it with your kids?
Jeff — I love this piece. I was intrigued to read about Izzy’s 21st century play date and I loved what you had to say about it. The English teacher in me is also impressed with your writing!!! Keep these posts coming!
Thanks for the props on my writing, all those days of writing essays paid off I guess. I’d love to know how/or if you are using blogs with your students. What do you think about blogging from an English teacher’s perspective? Is it an essential skill? Does it help students develop fundamentaly “new” skills that are different from other forms of writing?