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Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5

Lesson 6
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
Lesson 10

Summer
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   As I view the evolution of society I mirror it with my own experiences and lessons. If computers are a cause of deteriorating social graces, or cell pages and blackberries for that matter, there's an assumption that society was better in the past. But how far back in the past. The table etiquette, to be a bit extreme, of the caveman was not totally gracious. Was it the 50's, or the Victorian age in England? Have we changed in our ability to teach and learn, to relate to other persons and countires, or have things remained quite static and unchanged?

   If computers are changing the way the brain develops, if the brain developed differently and more naturally in the past, what is the standard for how the brain develops best? Before written word and people were challenged with translating symbols and words to thoughts, was that more natural? We know that symbol translation plays a great role in reading. We think reading is good and the way the brain develops around reading is good, so why will that not be the same with the use of computers and the mouse.

   Boredom and the need to be on the computer, or to be entertained by movies or parties, are not unrelated themes. Problem solving is in the mix of thinking processes also. By many standards, I was a deprived child. I lived on the farm on the Great Plains and seldom socialized in our community of 1400 persons. When not doing the chores, not having a computer or a TV, I build a raft, sat in the grass among the milch cows and made roads and bridges with twigs for my toy car. I really know where I fit in normal development but I feel adjusted, healthy and happy. I don't know how my rearing has affected my life, or what life would be like if I were raised differently.

   Healy changes her tune a bit here in the third section, and offers us the opportunity to say, "So, what do we do about all this?" When should children start on computers, and then, how should the computer be used by the child?

   Maybe if I had computers as a child, I'd be smart enough to not be on a computer.

• read the last three chapters of the textbook, another 100-plus pages,
• go to WebCT Discussions and write a reaction to your reading, like you've done before, considering some of the above thoughts and questions by composing a message,
• read the reactions of others (return to WebCT several times to read the recent reactions), and
• write replies to several reactions with supportive, alternative or expanding thoughts.