Thanks to Renee Orrichio for spotting this YouTube video that eloquently depicts the gap between traditional education and the world of the web. These kids write and read, but they do it with blog posts and text messages. They remember those facts that they actively search out, but not always what the teacher tells them.  How does this bode for the classroom as we know it?  Should school remain a separate world run on it’s own time, while kids live their lives in Internet time?

Every year , as kids all over head back to school, I carve out some time to look at look how’re progressing on raising a nation of kids ready to live, and live with mastery of high tech tools. So here’s the State of the State of the Internet Report. Read more �

No one likes looking foolish, especially when it’s a machine that gets the better of you. Yet, I think when we share life’s technical mishaps with our kids, or friends, or even beyond or beyond, we’re sending a message that says, “Hey look, this can happen to anyone; heed my warning.” Read more �

Yes, it’s the economy, stupid. According to a new study from PriceGrabber, the effects of the slumping economy will find their way to back-to-school supplies. Here are some of the highlights of the survey: Read more �

You can pooh-pooh social networks and the power of community a you want, but the truth is that women of all ages  (who happen to be great communicators to begin with) are tapping into the power of the Internet.  When used to its best , the Internet provides tools aplenty to let a small “mom” shop compete effectively with the big guys. Here’s my guide for hybrid moms juggling family and careers on how to use the Internet to make you seem like a shark even though you’re a guppy.

Honestly, if you can imagine it, you can find it for free on the Internet! Free music, advice, sample goodies, tickets—it’s all there. This month on Discover Edge I find the freebies and look for the fine print.

Any parent who’s tried to manage a texting teen, an IM’ing middle schooler, or a chatting tweener knows how difficult it is to teach them to moderate their phone time. This week T-Mobile gave parents another tool in the never-ending battle of cellphone-mania. The new service allows parents to monitor every aspect of phone life except the content. For $2 a month, kids receive a message when they’re nearing the end of their allotment. For more, see www.KidsAtPlaySummit.com. Read more �

Talk about a conversation that gives parents gray hair! Parents love when their kids have phones because they can keep in touch, but they’re not too crazy about the thought of monitoring bad phone behavior. For Discover I looked at the panoply of phone choices and offered my two cents (or two minutes if you’re into phone plan speak). For more: https://www.DiscoverCard.com/cardmembersvcs/edge/app/viewArticle?catId=TECH&
articleId=0708rraskin02.

September’s the month to plot your back-to-school survival strategy. For parents, the school year requires the management skills of a Fortune 500 CEO, the planning skills of General Patton, and the negotiation skills of King Solomon himself. And that’s just what you need before the year officially gets started. The joys, of course, are well worth it.

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On Aug. 9th there’s going to be a wonderful Internet safety day held at New York’s City Hall. Admission is free. The day was created for all NYC parents, students, educators, and interested parties to share knowledge and learn more about the Internet world. At a recent press conference to launch the event, here are the comments I made:
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