Sherry Turkle's Project Classroom Makeover : Analysis

Through her observations, she concludes that when children play with a Furby they “continually assess [the] Furby’s ‘emotional’ and ‘physical’ state [because] children fervently believe that the [one] who loves his or her Furby best will be most loved in return” (Turkle, 470). Through this quote, Turkle shows that the children do not treat the Furby like any other toy because the Furby has a dynamic layer of wellbeing that children need to pay attention to. This changing aspect leads children to spend a lot of time and grow really close with their Furby. Turkle’s word choice of “fervently” connotes a sense of enthusiasm children have towards the fact that they truly believe that their Furbies’s have life-like characteristics because Furbies, “present as having their own needs and inner lives” (Turkle, 470). Since Furbies are presented as having these life-like traits, children tend to view them more as human than a toy. This leads children to form a psychology of engagement with their Furby because they perceive the Furby as being able to share emotion and a bond like humans. Thus, the psychology of projection and engagement that forms within children creates a seemingly inseparable relationship between children and their Furbies.

This paper will summarize the ERR articles from the bulleted topics and issues. This paper will also include summaries on toys that may encourage violence and aggression, toys that may promote pro-social behavior, gender stereotyping in toy selection, and cultural stereotyping or, lack of cultural awareness in toys.

The “Toy Paper” is a research paper assignment for Child Development which we are to complete an in-depth analysis of the usefulness of a specific toy of our choice. The toy itself will be evaluated by three various stages in relation to cognitive, developmental, social and cultural perspective in addition to discussing topics which relate to the toy and its possible use by the child. The toy I have chosen for my topic to write about is the “Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy” which is a toy designed by Fisher Price for children ranging in age 6 to 36 months it contains 50+ sing along songs, tunes and phrases. A testimonial by a parent stated, “the interactive components of the puppy are engaging, the songs are fun and the different levels allow

This technology revolution sparked a debate on children’s use of technology. Children are constantly using iPads, iPhones, tablets, and other computerized devices. By over exposing children to technology, they are being robbed of the mental stimulation that comes from doing real, non computerized, activities. It has gotten to the point where one can see a two-year-old navigate an iPhone with ease but struggle to speak. Sixty-nine percent of children aged two to five can use a computer mouse, but only eleven percent can tie their own shoelaces (Generation Tech More Kids Can Play Computer Games than Ride a Bike). Also, children are at an all time low in the creativity department

In a world that continues to advance technologically machines titled “sociable robots” acquire life-like characteristics once exclusive to humans. They are able to express artificial emotions that seem real to the user. In “Alone Together” by Sherry Turkle we see how sociable robots interact with children. They begin to feel emotions that were once exclusive to human interaction. In the narrative “An Army of One: Me” by Jean Twenge we see how prominent the generation gap is. Those under the age of thirty-five tend to focus more on themselves and making sure they feel worthy. Twenge appropriately titles this generation as “Generation Me,” highlighting the fact that boosts of “self-esteem” leads to a rise in individualistic focus. Parents expose their children to toys that industries manufacture to fill the emotional needs children have at a young age. This consequently decreases the need for human interaction. As technology develops and become more “alive,” researchers are able to find what children desire and are able to give those desires to them in a toy. These new toys shape how children think and grow, directly affecting them for their entire lives. By changing the notions of aliveness, sociable robots “cultivate” behaviors representative of Generation Me by manipulating values important to one’s well-being through their expression of life-like emotions and behaviors.

To start, Sherry mentions how smart toys have started to advance where it made children believe that the new innovation toys give sentiments like a genuine human being would. Due to the knowledge technology gadgets

boards were integrated into the rooms to give the children an early introduction to computer technology. They also provide opportunities for hands-on activities, which is a great way for children of all ages to get in touch with the world around them. For example, in the one year old’s wing the teachers use the boards for music and sometime the Oklahoma City Zoo’s animal cameras where the teachers teach about the different types of zoo animals. But some parents have regards with SMART boards being used in their child’s room. For example, in the one year old rooms parents sometimes do not want their children being introduced to technology at that early of an age. Which is not a good idea at this time, technology is used everywhere and it is better to learn early on in life.

Ever since its inception, human civilization has been run by a pecking order; a small group of elitists on the top of the chain of command dictate the social norms for the remaining individuals on the antithetical end of the spectrum. Individuals with traits outside these norms are ostracized and looked down upon by the hierarchy. Cathy Davidson’s, Project Classroom Makeover, promotes the use of customization in the education system to accommodate every students’ learning habits over the current use of standardization and curriculum based teachings. On the other hand, Karen Ho’s, Biographies of Hegemony, is about how one’s environment is engineered by institutions, which in turn establish hierarchies who set standards for society. However, Son by Andrew Solomon describes how horizontal identities, traits influenced by peer groups that separate individuals from their families, are seen as abnormalities and those with such identities are on the bottom of the said hierarchy. Based on Davidson’s, Solomon’s, and Ho’s works, individualism does into question because society forces individuals to conform to the standardized norm in which they are not allowed to have unique identities.

The types of toys children play with can affect how they develop. Toys can help or hinder a child’s development in intelligence, social skills and personality. Certain characteristics may be genetically entwined in a human being, but some characteristics and behaviors can be learned, from parents, surroundings, and the toys with which a youngster plays. Elise Moore, author of “How Do Toys Aid Development”, stated “if play is the work of the child, toys are the child’s tools” (Moore, 2).

It is because of this education that society forces onto children to cultivate ‘user-ready’ minds that Barthes believes “the child can only identify himself as owner, as user, never as creator; he does not invent the world, he uses it,”(89); the child is allowed to discover only those aspects of the world that would further his or her assimilation into it. The child’s actions are always induced imitation, never original adaptations. Giving a child a Barbie and a Ken doll which represent femininity/masculinity and family dynamics, or a Baby Krissie doll as a vaccine preparing the small girl to become a mother (always hinting at the parasitic nature of an unprepared motherhood), in Barthes’s view, is society intentionally directing children to enter the world through a user-oriented, preconceived path. But what if the child fails to comprehend society’s pruning and interprets toys to bring further meaning to ideas that were of his or here own conception?

In today’s society we are overwhelmed with technology. Technology is changing everyday, and will forever be a staple in our lives. The effect that technology has on our children has brought on some concerns and some praises. Children these days have no choice but to some how be influenced by the ever growing technology in our societies. Our common concern has been that although digital technology has boosted children’s talent for multitasking, their ability to process information deeply may be deteriorating (Carpenter, 2010). Many people have a wide range of opinions on if technology is having a positive influence on our children or a negative, there is a vast amount of evidence to support both of these arguments. Technology can refer to

Freedom vs. Domination Often times, two things which have no similarities at first sight, can actually be related through ways which are not clearly obvious. The concept of the “authority principle” and the “hegemony” of Wall Street are two such examples of this. In Cathy Davidson’s “Project Classroom Makeover”, she wrote about an experiment that was conducted at Duke University. During the course of the experiment she gave all the students a chance to think outside the box by offering them all iPods, and in doing so, asked them “to dream up learning applications for [the] cool little white device” (Davidson, 49). The experiment allowed kids to take charge of their own learning, in a way that benefited them more than traditional teaching ever

During the ages of 6-10 a child’s only main concern is to play. However, when presented with a toy such as Dash, their concern shifts over to “ what can I make this do to entertain myself.” Dash creates a false sense of authority for children to thrive on. By being only 6.9 inches tall, a child will constantly being looking down at it whether they may be standing or sitting down. Wonder Workshop advertises Dash as a child’s “first real robot friend,” but this becomes a false statement under the principles of psychology. According to psychological principle and individual cannot become friends with an entity that he/she has control over, such as a pet. Due to Dash requiring to be manipulated in order to carry out certain tasks, it cannot actually

The current generation of children is completely different than the preceding ones. They are living in the digital age. “Technology has blended in with daily activity to become a way of life and children today take for granted all of which is automated. It is hard for kids nowadays to imagine a world that existed without all of the gadgets, electronics and seamless operations that computer technology provides.” (3) “Children in the United States devote some 40 hours a week to television, video games and the Internet.” (12) Many psychologists and researchers are concerned about the impact that technology has on children. Children, tomorrow’s future parents and leaders, are being consumed by the negative effects that technology had on their

“Some toys have a powerful influence on children’s thinking, interaction with peers, and creative expression.” (Prof. Trawick-Smith) The environment around a child has an incredible impact on their development. From a home setting, to a park setting to a school setting a child is constantly learning. Many studies have been done to determine how individual toys can affect a child because it is important for parents and educators to be informed. Even though many adults have their own idea of what is a good instrument for their child's growth, research and test can help point the way.