Interactive Web sites for Kids: Socially Responsible?
Interactive Sites for Kids: Good or Bad?
My cousin, who is in middle school, was talking about a Web site that she was using for class. The site was an interactive learning Web site where children could learn about science. I asked her what the name of the Web site was and she said it was called “Cells Alive!” I had to check this out for myself. I could not believe that children were using Web sites to learn about science and that she actually liked learning about science because she was using this Web site.
The Web site, http://www.cellsalive.com/, has various interactive pages that teach children about cells, cell cycles, mitosis, meiosis, cell cycles and even has cell puzzles. My cousin must’ve been in a science class that was learning about various cell processes. After searching around on the Web site, I found it to be very informational and a great way for children to learn about science. By incorporating games, puzzles and information into a Web site, teachers can help students say interested in a topic (Welcome, 2009).
Here is an example of one of the cell models shown on the Cells Alive Web site:
Although there are many interactive Web sites that teach children informational things such as science, English, reading and more, there are Web sites that do not teach children anything relevant to school or their studies. Some Web sites that are purely interactive include Polly Pocket (http://pollypocket.everythinggirl.com/home.aspx), Barbie (http://www.barbie.com/) and Lucky Charms (http://www.luckycharms.com/). If you take a look at these Web sites, you can see that they are sites that children can get lost for hours playing. Barbie and Polly Pocket’s Web sites let users dress the dolls up in their favorite outfit and hairstyle and play a ton of games. Lucky Charms Web site is similar, children can help Lucky run away from the children and play several games.
I am not sure if these Web sites are acting socially responsible. By making Web sites for products that can be sold in stores and online, I feel that children are being misled. Many children do not understand the concept of product placement or what can be classified as a socially responsible Web site.
References:
Barbie. (2009). Retrieved December 23, 2009, from http://www.barbie.com/
Interactive Sites for Kids. (2009). Retrieved December 23, 2009, from http://www.theteachersguide.com/interactivesites.html
Lucky Charms. (2009). Retrieved December 23, 2009, from http://www.luckycharms.com/
Polly Pocket. (2009). Retrieved December 23, 2009, from http://pollypocket.everythinggirl.com/home.aspx
Welcome to Cells Alive! (2009). Retrieved December 23, 2009, from http://www.cellsalive.com/
Michelle,
How interesting that children can learn to this depth of the cell structure online….and have fun in the process. It would be great if more games and interactive media were more educational rather than, like the other games you mentioned like Barbie and Polly Pocket, especially for younger children and children in middle school.
I did think this particular cell discription was a bit much in reference to a leukemia cell: “You can find out more about this natural phenomenon of programmed cell death in “Apoptosis: when a cell commits suicide”. I thought the site could have chosen some words other than “when a cell commits suicide”, maybe it’s just me but I thought for a middle school person that this was too harsh.
Just a thought,
Kathy
Reference
cellsalive.com, (n.d.) Retrieved December 23, 2009 from, http://www.cellsalive.com/gallery.htm
I like your post. I have a two year old and I am SO excited to see that sites are becoming more and more interactive. I build web sites myself and just started a business doing this.
I hope to make some cool web sites like the “Cell’s Alive” site and, as well, make mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, etc., just as happy as the little tykes using them.
-The Redhead in the Corner