“Screens” are often a hot topic, both at home and in learning environments. They offer a world of exciting experiences but can also bring a host of problems.
First, I think the language we use about this topic matters. I tend not to use the word “screens”, since this can flatten a range of experiences into one little term, often used dismissively to imply they don’t have value. When I want to refer to the whole set I say “electronic media”. It’s bulkier, yes, but it reminds me to try to be more specific. When possible, I like to refer to the specific device (tablet, laptop) or activity (playing games, watching videos).
At WonderWild we have:
- An mp3 player with noise-cancelling headphones. It has a some recorded stories on it, such as fairy tales and fables. It also has some instrumental music, such as relaxing piano or jazz. The kids tend to pick this up when they need a quiet minute to themselves or want to relax.
- Tablet with Procreate (a digital art app), a note taking app, and a calculator. The kids draw pictures on here, sometimes to illustrate a story they’re telling or game they’re playing together.
- Laptop with Minecraft and Epic (a digital reading platform). Minecraft is an excellent building, designing, and problem-solving program that most kids love. Epic has many books that are read-aloud, a great option for pre-readers.
These devices and programs were chosen intentionally to add value to our learning center. Each of them brings its own benefits.
- Listening to stories or music on the mp3 player lets children relax, reset, and regulate. Our space is busy and noisy. Even kids who love noise and motion tend to also need some quiet moments away.
- The digital art program on the tablet is one more way learners can express their creativity. They use it to experiment with shapes, colors, and textures. They draw illustrations and props for storytelling activities.
- The note-taking app on the tablet is another way learners can build language skills, and the calculator assists with math skills.
- Minecraft offers a whole world of wonderful skill-building. It fosters creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, and project management skills through open-ended challenges. It boosts STEM skills like math and coding. When kids work together with Minecraft, they build skills like teamwork, communication, and collaboration. It opens up storytelling and world-building possibilities.
One concern a parent might have is whether their child will be on the computer all day here. In a self-directed learning environment, children choose how to spend their time. Does that mean they could choose to play Minecraft all day long?
In short, no. Here’s why that doesn’t happen here:
- The number of devices we have is limited, and we share them as a community. Kids work together to decide who will use a program, when, and for how long. Needing to share limits the time anyone spends on one program.
- There’s so much other stuff going on here! Children are naturally drawn to many different activities, and they are drawn to what other kids are doing. Sometimes a child will set their alarm for time on the laptop and then get up 5 minutes later simply because something more interesting is happening elsewhere!
- Part of including electronic media in our space is learning how to use these options mindfully. For our most enticing option, Minecraft on the laptop, a child is always asked to set a timer before beginning. Deciding how long to play and being able to walk away at the end of that time are responsible media skills that we foster here.
Some self-directed learning centers do not include electronic media in their programs. They may have tried it and found it to create too many problems. Based on the experiences of these other centers, we are on the lookout for potential problems that could arise.
- Do these choices enhance or detract from children’s experiences here?
- Are there too frequent arguments or dissatisfaction with shared usage?
- Does electronic media continue to align with our other community values?
Including electronic media in our program is part of a larger on-going conversation about what activities to include. Our options are constantly in flux as we meet the needs and interests of the children enrolled here.
Like everything else at WonderWild, we are free to choose what’s working for us as a community and discard anything that isn’t. For now, the children are joyfully choosing the electronic media that interests them, are working together to make choices about them, and are easily walking away to engage with other activities.
