USA Today – Greg Toppo
“…parents worry that smartphones, gaming consoles and the always-on World Wide Web are co-opting young people’s learning and giving them access to things better left unseen. A new book suggests that such broad generalizations don’t capture what happens when children have access to new media…The authors take an exhaustive look at research on the topic as well as emerging practices in education. They come away with a few surprising findings…The book’s release this fall also coincides with a historic shift in guidelines on screen media from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has moved away from a blanket prohibition on electronic screens for young children, to a more nuanced approach — it acknowledges that devices like iPads and smartphones can be beneficial when parents take an active role instead of relying on them as electronic babysitters.”(more)