Who would have thought?

Sometimes I strongly believe that technology is a huge disadvantage to kids. Maybe that's just because I grew up in a generation where you could play in your yard until late at night. We didn't have a computer at home until I was a senior in high school and when we did we had to wait for dial up. Today, kids who aren't even 10 have cell phones. They have Facebook accounts and many of them text faster than I can talk. Other times though I see how technology can really motivate a child to learn.

I recently downloaded a bunch of math applications on my IPad and have been using them with a student who has been struggling in math. I have found a motivation for this child. They want to play the games, come up with the CORRECT answers. Challenge themselves. Something I haven't seen yet. Who would have thought that something as simple as bringing technology into this one on one situation would cause this child to want to challenge themselves more!
Not only that, even my 19 month old son knows how to turn the IPad on, open up the folder with his games and choose a game to play all by himself.
Wow how things can change so rapidly from generation to generation