The video entries received are judged based on: concept originality; quality of the solution to the problem; creativity and imagination; scientific truth, ability to inspire; and adherence to the contest rules.

More about the contest is here.

One of the greatest benefits to digital technology is also one its biggest drawbacks – ability to learn autonomously. Today, any subject or area of interest can be accessed online with a few clicks. From algebra lessons to yo-yo tricks, the barriers to learning have collapsed thanks to digital technologies at our finger tips (literally).

Unfortunately for our children, the communities in which they are learning haven’t yet adapted to this new paradigm of instruction. Although children are interacting daily with digital media through iPods, tablets, computers, and cell phones, a new report suggests they are lacking the critical thinking and ethical skills to both use the internet appropriately and to experience its enormous learning potential.

The report, Young Canadians in a Wired World by Media Awareness Network, indicates that traditional teaching models, such as “drill and kill” where the teacher  talks at the students and demands all students do the same exercises, do not work well with the type of autonomous learning inherent in digital tools. However, a teacher who is willing to collaborate with their students and share in the responsibility of learning is more likely to use online tools effectively.

Technology use is viewed by many teachers – particularly younger, less experienced instructors – as disruptive to the classroom. It is seen as a distraction to students’  learning, rather than a fundamental tool to navigate a child’s natural curiosity on various academic subjects.

Surprisingly, the report also indicates that students are not as internet-savvy as one would expect, given their comfort with the online world. “They really struggle about what to type in for a Google search, and I’m always surprised at the lack of knowledge that students have about how to search and navigate online,” says one secondary school teacher in the report.

Today’s parents, who grew up having to rifle through library stacks and newspaper clippings to research a topic, inherently understand that a source of information needs to be reliable. We are, therefore, less apt to take what we read online as fact. Kids, however, whose reliance on Wikipedia is abundant, may not ever bother borrowing a library for their school project and, instead, assume that the information written by an “expert” on website 1812WarTheories.ca is as reliable as a non-fiction book with a bibliography of scholarly sources.

There is little suggestion in the report that school boards are racing to restructure the classrooms to better incorporate the self-learning style necessary for effective use of digital tools. Certainly, the changes will come, however incrementally. Yet, we have an enormous opportunity to expose our children to innovative thinking within the digital landscape. That’s why parents need to pick up the slack.

Parents should invest one-on-one time with their kids in front of the screen during which time they can help them learn to think critically about their online experience. Rather than letting a child wile away hours watching YouTube videos featuring moronic twenty-somethings pulling pranks, encourage him or her to research a topic of personal interest (it can be anything). Then spend time reviewing what he’s learned and determining which websites provided the best information.

Much like a parent must spend quality time teaching a child how to read, he or she should invest time teaching that same child (albeit older) how process online information. This is a skill, after all, and many kids are not learning it.

Imagine how different our eating habits would be if the billions of dollars and bursts of creative genius used to market junk food were employed to encourage us to enjoy healthy food. If a brilliantly funny commercial about salads that had you rushing to your fridge to chop carrots, much the way a goofy representative for Dairy Queen has us dreaming of ice cream Blizzards.

While the idea borders on the ridiculous, that’s exactly what is happening with UK-based food company, Arla Foods. I love that they are making their milk brand,  Cravendale, cool as a result of some very hip, very YouTube friendly viral videos and TV commercials. Check out the funny ad below, warning the human populace of what will happen when cats develop opposable thumbs. And, just see if it doesn’t give you a bit more respect for one of the oldest, most nutrient-rich, drinks on the planet. If more marketing efforts were directed toward getting our picky sugar-loving kids to forgo skittles for a pack of peas, I’m all for it. In fact, plenty of parents would encourage their kids to watch their commercials, in the same way they tell their kids to eat the vegetables.

We all sit on our butts too much these days. Between our office job, Googling, Facebooking, playing video games, and watching TV, few of us can complain that we don’t get enough opportunity to just sit and relax. This habit of parking our rears is apparent through all generations – from young to old. In fact, one of the biggest dangers of the internet and digital technology may be it’s negative effect on our health.

Here are some interesting statistics about the state of our health due to sedentary living, as compiled by U.S.-based organization Medical Billing and Coding:

• The average North American sits 9.3 hours per day (versus 7.7 hours of sleep);
• A person who sits more than six hours per day is up to 40% more likely to die within 15 years than someone who sits less than three hours;
• Those who sit three hours or more per day watching TV are 64% more likely to die from heart disease, and;
• Of those who watch three hours per day, those who exercise are no slimmer than those who don’t.

The solution to our life-shortening habits is, actually, quite simple. We need to turn off the TV, or whatever screen engages us most, and get off the couch. The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend kids include at least one hour of physical activity per day, and adults at least 2.5 hours per week. These may be helpful for some, but how many parents are actually keeping track of their kids’ activity? Probably very few. Rather than wringing hands over the amount of time kids are getting vigorous exercise, parents might be better off keeping track of how many hours their kids are sitting watching TV, YouTube videos, or playing video games. Less time in front of a screen will likely translate to more time on their feet.

TED is a non-profit organization devoted to “ideas worth spreading” and features innovators from the fields of Technology, Education, and Design. Below is an enlightening video featuring TED speaker, Ken Robinson, that challenges the current education model in an exceedingly entertaining and surprisingly clear way. It describes the need for a revolutionary change in how today’s kids are taught, expounding the merits of new technologies and the ability to exploit kids’ digital literacy. I highly recommend you read the entire video (unfortunately, the sound cuts off in last 20 seconds.) TED is a stellar example of how technology enables thought leaders to share innovative ideas that inspire and educate across the globe.

There is a growing army of female warriors determined to battle the media’s assault on female empowerment and self-confidence. The likes of Miss Representation and Spark are two such inspiring grassroots organizations that campaign to stop the proliferation of degrading portrayals of women in movies, TV shows, ads, and more. I wholly applaud them because their words to North American females echo those I share with my own family. With one exception: I have sons.

As my oldest son leans toward his tween years, I feel a particular urgency to open his eyes to the inaccurate representations of women of which he is increasingly exposed.

The days of 24/7 Treehouse TV are long gone and YouTube viewing is slowly migrating into music video territory with movie preferences getting dicy.

While I understand that the campaign to fight negative female stereotypes is by-and-large a female issue, more emphasis needs to shift toward educating our boys to think critically about this issue. After all, some of the most offensive displays of women (think: helpless, “stupid”, barely dressed) are emblazoned in magazines and movies marketed directly to men. If we, as parents, are not teaching our boys that these images do not truthfully reflect the value of women, then I don’t believe the battle will as hard fought as it could be.

A couple of weeks ago, my 11-year-old son’s friend blurted that he was going to see the movie Jack and Jill. I’d just seen the commercial and had been struck by the degrading treatment of the “ugly” sister. (I know it’s supposed to be funny that she is played by Adam Sandler but the message isn’t: treat pretty girls well and ugly girls like garbage.)

My knee jerk response was to exclaim how awful the movie looked and to point out that is completely degrading to women. My son, used to this kind of talk, didn’t bat an eye but his friend looked at me like I’d just grown a horn out of the top of my head.

“I don’t like Adam Sandler movies,” I’d muttered as I cleared the dinner dishes. My son would not be thrilled if I’d stepped onto my soap box and lectured on the importance of critical thinking in front of his friend, so I left it at that. However, the experience helped me to realize that this issue of misrepresentation of women is relying almost completely on the shoulders of mothers and daughters, when it truly should be a battle shared by all. I, for one, am doing my part and I hope others join me.