Having raised two children in an age where I’ve seen them go from happily playing with Barbie dolls, reading paper-based books, and building with LEGOs to a life now totally fixated by pocket-sized powerful electronic devices that are more an appendage than a novelty, I am left with many questions and concerns.

By Adele Centanni

 

Having raised two children in an age where I’ve seen them go from happily playing with Barbie dolls, reading paper-based books, and building with LEGOs to a life now totally fixated by pocket-sized powerful electronic devices that are more an appendage than a novelty, I am left with many questions and concerns. Most importantly, are these technical advancements a positive development or are they at their worst, a foreboding of a society in decline?

 

If you have also wondered where this trend is leading us, join community members at the next “Heard In Rye” presentation on Thursday, January 30 at 7:30 p.m. at The Osborn. The speaker is Stephen Apkon, the founder and Executive Director of The Jacob Burns Film Center, a non-profit film and educational organization in Pleasantville. He is also the author of “The Age of the Image: Redefining Literacy in a World of Screens.”

 

While we often hear and read about the negatives associated with technology and children, Apkon will discuss the opportunities to use these technical advancements to make a positive impact. He will explore ways in which parents can help prepare their children to better use the burgeoning world of visual media while contributing not just as consumers but rather as creators of media content.

 

Apkon will discuss how one can literally change the world by simply having a phone with a camera and a sensibility to share what is created. When today’s adults were growing up, literacy meant learning to read and write. He will explain why in addition to these important skills, it is essential for today’s children to also be digitally literate in order to be successful in their world. Parents will learn about unique opportunities for this new generation of ‘screenagers’ and how they can seize the positive power that these devices have to offer.

 

The presentation is geared towards a wide age range, so both teens and adults are welcome. The first 50 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of “The Age of the Image.” More information is available at www.heardinrye.org.