Responsible Screen Time in Museums?

                    This session talked about screen time and how museums are embracing its use with their visitors. There are various headlines and research that show how screen time can both harm or help kids (a case can be made for both sides), but the overall idea is that screens and technology are here and are already in use, so we need to talk about what kinds of media should be presented and what type of screen time is being used. 

Categories of screen time
-passive consumption (watching tv, listening to music)
-interactive consumption (playing games, browsing on internet)
-communication (video chat, social media)
-content creation (making digital art or music)

  The sum of all screen time is not necessarily the best or most useful measurement, since not all screen time is created equal. The AAP revised their position last year by now saying that "well designed media could be a tool for social interaction and learning." In a sense they are saying that it can be a good thing as long as the program, app, or show was thoughtfully chosen for a learning or social purpose, and the adult is there to monitor and engage with the child. A lot of people still hold the belief though that "screen time = BAD," so that can be hard for some organizations to navigate through, depending on the attitude of the stakeholders and decision makers.

This looked like a beautiful exhibit in New York. The whole room (floor and walls) is interactive and responds to touch! 

Some people wouldn't think of the above picture as showing an exhibit that uses "screen time," but obviously it does. That really shows the difference in how something can be well designed and educational, where the child determines what happens next, versus something that a child would just passively observe.

In this interactive exhibit, kids can choose which animal to race against on the short track (dinosaur, lion, etc.). Then the animal will race next to the child in real time!

  The bottom line is, there have always been attitudes around where people are reluctant to embrace what's new (phonograph, radio, television, etc.). But technology is here to stay, and it's important to show how to be responsible with it and learn how to become good media mentors for our community.

-Yolanda