I decided to interview my cousin. She is 15 years old and just entering high school in the Fairmont area.
Ask your young person to choose a pseudonym for you to use in the writing of your case.
•Do you have a computer /iPod/MPC playerWii/ ect....?
•What kinds of things do you use the computer for?
•What is your favorite thing to do on the computer?
•How did you learn to do that?
•What are some other things you use the computer for?
•What is your favorite game? Why?
•Do you know other people who do this?
•How do you use the computer at school?
•How would you like to use the computer at school?
•Do you think teachers would let you use the computer to do those things? Why? Why not?
•Anything else you would like to tell me?
Me: For this interview you need to choose a pseudonym or nickname for me to use in my case?
You can use Skybug. That has been my childhood nickname.
Me: Do you have a computer /iPod/MPC playerWii/ ect....?
Skybug: What I can think of is I have a IPhone, computer, Xbox, Wii, IPod, and IPad.
Me: What kinds of things do you use the computer for?
Skybug: I use it for a lot of things. I use it to complete homework, looking things up, music, and getting on Facebook, but I use my IPad more than my computer.
Me: What is your favorite thing to do on the computer?
Skybug: Probably my favorite thing to do is get on YouTube and search for music.
Me: How did you learn to do that?
Skybug: At school
Me: What are some other things you use the computer for?
Skybug: I can't think of anything else.
Me: What is your favorite game? Why?
Skybug: I don't have a favorite game. I am just not into games anymore.
Me:How do you use the computer at school?
Skybug: I use it to write papers, research for assignments and testing.
Me: How would you like to use the computer at school?
Skybug: I guess to have a little bit more freedom and to have teachers show me things I don't know how to do on the computer.
Me: Do you think teachers would let you use the computer to do those things? Why? Why not?
Skybug: I doubt it. I feel teachers want assignments certain ways and if you don't do them that way it will show in your grade.
Me:Anything else you would like to tell me?
Skybug: No, I don't think so.
Me: Thank you for letting me interview you. I appreciate it.
I also interviewed a 15 year old young person. A lot of Skybug’s answers are similar to his; except the games. It seems that at school all they get to use the computer for is testing and research; pretty sad. On page 3 of our text, Digital Literacies Social Learning and Classroom Practices, it states, “It is time our classrooms became places where digital and print literacies come together to allow children opportunities to develop the skills and attitudes they will need to navigate complex urban sites and social forms.” I thought this quote might be helpful.
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like your interview went really well. I was surprised that she didn't play any games, a lot of my freshmen students that age always talk about playing games. I am not a game person either though. It's great that she has access to a lot of technology resources. I hate that students aren't able to use the computers for that much stuff at school, but it was the same way when I was in school. I hope that schools can start making changes to that. The book that we just started and the last one talks about teaching students a better way to use the resources that they have available and help them become successful scholars.
Ashley-- your interview was very informative about what young students feel about technology in classes. I feel like a lot of students would appreciate more freedom in school when it comes to digital media but I understand, also, a teachers fear of giving that extra freedom. Students do have a lot of games they learn in schools that they learn from teachers when they finish their assignments. Those games are education. I remember the games I played in middle school and I'm 25! Crazy.
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