Educational Psychologist Eases Parents? Concerns Over Children?s Use of Technology
Educational Psychologist Eases Parents’ Concerns Over Children’s Use of Technology
Manhattan Beach, California (PRWEB) February 28, 2012
Melanie West, Educational Psychologist and expert in life-long learning, recently held a discussion with a number of parents concerning technology and how children use it.
“You probably see kids nowadays on their phones or iPads instead of doing homework,” Melanie said to the group of parents. “Your first instinct may be to tell them to turn off the technology and get back to work, but your child may ACTUALLY be doing their homework.”
Parents may have concerns over their children’s use of technology, but Melanie West believes that technology like iPads and smartphones can actually make the learning process more effective and enjoyable.
In fact, many schools across America have begun integrating various forms of technology into their classrooms. For instance, the Manhattan Beach School District in California launched a pilot program where certain classrooms were given iPads to aid in learning.
As Tom Vander Ark discussed in his Huffington Post article, “A Turning Point”, technology such as smartphones, tablets, and online networks (ie, Edmodo) are allowing innovations like personalized, one on one teaching that a few years ago wasn’t even possible.
For Melanie West, this is a blessing: “When you look at the statistics, you see most students are struggling in school. The issue isn’t the student, but the way schools teach. Every person learns in a unique way, but schools teach only one way. And if a student doesn’t learn that way, they can’t succeed.”
With these innovations, children will be able to learn more effectively and more easily.
“For instance,” said Melanie, “brain research shows us that the right side of the brain thinks 3-dimensionally having the ability to look at information from all possible angles. This is the same side of the brain that stores understanding of concepts. When you ‘know’ something without hesitation, you have stored that information in the right hemisphere of the brain. Tablets now allow students to experience information 3-dimensionally with images and videos, and learn in a way never before possible.”
Finishing up her presentation, Melanie emphasized, “When used correctly, technology can help your child truly learn.”
About Melanie West
Melanie West is an Expert in Life-Long Learning. Both an accomplished educational psychologist and mother of four, Melanie West has devoted her life to helping children succeed both in school and in life. Over the past 15 years, Melanie has helped thousands of parents understand their children’s behavior and learning, allowing them to resolve even the toughest of problems. You can find out more about her at her website, http://www.melaniewest.com.
You can also contact her by email: melanie.west(at)therightsideoflearning(dot)com.
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