Technology through a child's eye

On 11/13/13 I interviewed my daughter Haylee about her thoughts on technology.  The following are the questions I asked her and her responses.  I shall further elaborate on what I learned and what I found interesting or surprising.

Q1: What kind of technologies do you use?
A1: Laptop, iPod, TV, Wii, and sometimes tablet.
She has access to these not only at our house, but with friends and extended family.

Q2: Which are your favorites?
A2: The computer, because there is a lot to do, you can go on YouTube and find cool music.  Wii because you can play Mario Kart or Just Dance, and TV because I like to watch Disney Channel because it is cool.
There is a large variety of websites, games, and shows to choose from, but she tends to find her favorites and stick to them.  For instance she does not watch many other channels besides Disney (Unfortunately for me)

Q3: Is technology good for you? If so when?
A3: Technology is good for homework or when I am board I watch random videos on YouTube, or just watch TV.
Her School is increasingly using programs such as Ten Marks and Xtra Math for homework. Although it's nice she can find something to do when she is board it can be hard getting her to do more active things.

Q4: When is technology bad?
A4: Technology is not good for your eyes and weight. When staring at the screen too much, and you are not focused.  You can get in trouble for not doing your chores and stuff.
I'm glad to see she recognizes that too much is a bad thing, and that it can get in the way of other responsibilities.

Q5: What do you think of our (your parents) use of technology?
A5: Old people use it for school, cooking recipes, social websites, and email. It's not good because they are not paying attention to me!  You use it too much for school!
Haylee likes the center of attention and does not like to share the spotlight with technology. The time I spend online for this Masters program can be hard to balance with family time.

Q6: Where will technology be in the future?
A6: They will make phones with hologram pictures of people that pop up. There will also be more TV channels, like a thousand.
In Star Wars the hologram projection of Princess Leia seemed so far in the future, nowadays it may not be so far off.  The increase of television channels is also inevitable, but I also see options such as NetFlix and Roku expanding.

Q7: How does technology change people?
A7: Back in the 1990's they didn't have much.  They probably had cars, but now we have TV and better clothes.
She makes me laugh. Kids do not have a very good concept of time or what things were like before they were born (I assume she meant the 1900's). Not having seen many fads come and go she feels the music and styles of today (her time) are the best.

Q8: How does technology help you connect with others?
A8: My Grandparents live in Minnesota. Facebook, Facetime, and Skype are much better than calling them.  You make a better connection when you can see them.
The ability to see the person you are talking to, no matter how far away, does give a much more intimate experience.

Q9: How can technology help at school?
A9: You can do online work at home. Khan Academy gives you new things to work on to keep up your skills. It is also a good way to keep up with your teachers, you can send them messages

Q10: What do you think about distance learning?
A10: It's cool because you can be like home schooled, help with homework, send math problems, and it would be cool to be a virtual teacher.You don't want to fly to their state or country, you can stay in the comfort of your own home.
Great points Haylee!

Q11: How about learning with games?
A11: Ten Marks gives addition games to reward and educate. If you succeed you keep going, if you fail, that's ok, you do it again. Schools should have it because it makes it fun. In Sketches World you do math and walk around grabbing school supplies.  You feel good for getting rewarded for hard work.
I like the fact that she sees failing as part of the learning process and looks forwards to the satisfaction of winning the games.  Plus who doesn't like to have fun?

Q12: If you could invent anything what would it be?
A12: A butler phone.  If you want orange juice then it would come out of your phone. or a cell phone that could shrink.  It could also project a hologram image that you could touch, so I could give my Grandma a hug!
Although a phone that can get you anything instantly may be far off, many technologies are already geared toward instant gratification.  Our patience is growing shorter.  The idea of sending a letter to someone via snail mail is boarder-line laughable.  She is cute for wanting to give her grandmother a hologram hug though.

After I was done with this interview Haylee said I thought this interview was going to be about me?  I said it was about what you think, and she said oh! because I like talking about myself.  I believe there is much insight to receive if we are willing to ask the right questions and listen to what children have to say.  Who knows, you might even learn something yourself.