Effects of media on social education Educational television focuses on the basics such as counting and spelling, but it is not sufficient as the sole or main source of education; while it is a great reinforcement, it is not an adequate substitute in teaching the fundamentals. When it comes to educating children about the world around them, however, media – particularly television and the Internet – can be extremely effective and perhaps even crucial in an increasingly plugged-in world.

Children’s television networks such as Nick Jr. and Noggin connect children to each other and to their world by emphasizing cultural values and providing them with a social framework. The characters featured in the shows on these networks (and their accompanying Web sites) are easy for children to identify with, encourage them to use their imaginations and provide a common interest that helps them relate to one another.

Shows like PBS’s Sesame Street and Noggin’s Oswald and Franklin feature animals and muppets, allowing children to identify with the characters regardless of their shape, size or race. Without emphasis on a certain physical ideal, children are more likely to focus on the story’s message. The universal quality of these characters shifts the attention from what they are to who they are. Children are more likely to embrace the concept of “accepting each other’s differences” when their on-screen friends include a furry blue cookie monster or a talking octopus and his pet hot-dog. The use of these characters addresses discrimination, one of the nation’s major social issues, at a very young age.

Children’s television takes routine activities such as playing with friends, doing chores and going to school and translates it to exotic characters in fantasy worlds that will capture children’s attention and engage their imaginations. This makes it easy to teach values such as sharing, treating others as you want to be treated, and thinking for yourself. It also shows children how to handle new situations like the first day of school or the arrival of a new sibling. Television is an effective source of social education because it shows rather than tells.

In addition to television, the Internet is becoming increasingly important in teaching children because of its interactive quality. Noggin.com makes it easy for children to navigate the site themselves even if they cannot read by providing a horizontal navigation bar with a picture to represent each show. As the child scrolls across each icon, the picture lights up and the title of the show is announced. Each show has its own set of games, video clips, “printables” and other activities. Being able to navigate the sites themselves gives children a sense of independence and allows them to choose what they want to explore.

While these mediums cannot adequately substitute formal education and human interaction, they enhance children’s knowledge and make learning fun. As television becomes more interactive and the line between television and the Internet continues to blur – and as school systems continue to rely more on computers as a part of the curriculum – media plays a significant role in educating children.  ¶ posted by AlexM2121 at 12:48 AM •