Too Many Computers Hurt Learning

An anonymous reader writes "The Christian Science Monitor is running a story on a recent University of Munich study of school children in 31 countries that found a correlation between frequent computer usage and poor academic performance. Having more than one computer in the home was found to be particularly bad news! For those Slashdotters with children, how do you deal with your kids' computer use?"

Re:Thank you, but no

[Mike Rubits]

4 hours AND valedictorian?

Let me just express my disliking of you, says the 50th percentile :P

Re:Thank you, but no

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, but you suck at Counterstrike.

Re:Thank you, but no

[Anonymous Coward]

and you've never had sex too! what a tripple whammy

Re:Nature of computer usage changed.

[Chuck Chunder]

checking up

there favorite pop star

Two computers in your household, right? ;)

Re:Nature of computer usage changed.

[Anonymous Coward]

correct English and correct spelling was also deficient in most schools

Why even ask?

[slightlyspacey]

You're question presupposes that us Slashdot nerds actually have enough of a life to:

1) Turn off the computer(s)
2) Date (or more accurately, find a girl desperate enough to go out with us)
3) Turn off the computer(s) and go out long enough to have a serious relationship
4) Marry (nowadays optional)
5) Turn off the computer(s)and actually make kids
6) Give up control of one or more of *your* computer(s) so that the aforementioned hypothetical kids can get on the computer(s) so that later, as you realize there is more to parenting than sitting them in front of a computer screen the entire day, you can kick them off

Sounds like a long shot to me.

Re:Hrmm

[Anonymous Coward]

It was as though a billion non-english speakers cried out in pain, and were silenced.

Enjoy getting dialects to work, too.

Re:Hrmm

[punxking]

Sounds double plus good to me!

Re:Nature of computer usage changed.

[jellomizer]

You do realize that some people are cursed with writing problems. I normally get "their" and "there" wright but sometimes I slip, I still after 27 years need to be conscious on what I am writing.

Re:Hrmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Should I have mentioned that it was a lame joke.

This is slashdot, that's pretty much a given.

Re:Hrmm

[xenocide2]

Thats why I installed Linux; to eliminate the game distraction and find something productive to do. Then I found /. .... =(

Re:We have a few rules, and it works

[GerbilSoft]

3. the computer is used for schoolwork and research.

Then what the heck are you doing here?

Re:I am a teacher

[Anonymous Coward]

I teach IT and I can absolutely say that, for the most part, the more CBT that is integrated into the class the lower the level of performance by the students as a whole.

Well, that's only natural. Cock and Ball Torture would make me perform worse in school, too.

Re:Hrmm

[gui_tarzan2000]

"Take english for example. We have American english, British english, Australian english and slashdot english."

Don't forget urban english, farmer english, southern english, chat room english, outsourced tech support english...

Re:Nature of computer usage changed.

[Beek]

> Most kids don't naturally have a since of focus if they have the chance they will do other things that are more enjoyable then homework.

Finally, a good use for Windows XP Starter Edition! [slashdot.org]

Re:We have a few rules, and it works

[Woy]

Ralph Spoilsport

I think you misspelled "DoubleStandard".

Re:Hrmm

[BlackHawk-666]

Does that mean Scouse and Cockney are 4 valid English, because they are from England? The way those east enders talk is a crime against the language.

Can't be truu

[mysterious_mark]

If 2 many 'puter iz bad fer yuz, tha'd mean peplez like ize which haz a lod uv 'puterz wudz be reawy reawy dum

Computer geeks, play with your kids!

[gnovos]

Instead of just letting your kids play counter-strike, make them have to jump through hoops, crack firewall passwords, decrypt .shadow password files, make it a challenge. That way when they are done they've learned a valuable skill. And the aiming and shooting skills the aquire at CS will helpt them deal withe consequences of thier new skill as well.

Re:Hrmm

[Hognoxious]

Which part of England do you mean? People use very different ways of speaking in differnent parts of England.

I don't have an accent; it's everybody else that does.

Re:Nature of computer usage changed.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the use of broadband internet as well as multitasking and more importanly, lack of self control are the reasons for lack of learning. The fact that I can keep my AIM with the compulsive need to check it every five minutes, accompanied by winamp and firefox with infinite time wasting abilities, while I'm trying to write up my lab report is not a winning combination. If I was able to pull my ethernet cord out from my jack I can gurantee I would get much more work done and be able to focus on work. I'm sure many people can attest to this.

One word: firewall. On my home LAN, when the 16 yo Boy's grades start to fall [like recently], his machine is blocked from any access to the Internet except for mail. he still has the ability to use OpenOffice and other things he needs, but the Internet is gone [while I sit in the other room and can still use it].

My 12 yo daughter typically has better grades, but more of a disrespect of parental authority thing. When that flares up, I change her password. She gets it back when her behavior improves.