Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Children to shape their future online
Under-fives are being asked to post their opinions on a website to help direct the work of the children's commissioner for England. The relaunched website for the commissioner's office, www.11million.org.uk, includes a section where young children can pick shapes to indicate their views. There are also sections where older children can use more conventional means of communicating their views to the commissioner.11 Million's current work programme includes tackling gun, gang and knife crime, asylum issues, and opposing Mosquito devices that are used to disperse groups of young people. But comments will also influence the subjects the commissioner addresses in the future.The site was redesigned with help from children and young people to make it more accessible to them.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
US report emphasises the importance of school library media centres
According to the 2008 State of America's Libraries report, released each year as part of National Library Week, Americans are acting on their conviction that school library media centers are a key element in delivering the kind of education the next generation needs in order to succeed in a global society. School library media centers are increasingly in the public eye, but even as their value is ever more widely acknowledged, funding for them continues to lag. Studies in 19 states have shown that a strong school library media program helps students learn more and score higher on standardized tests. In Washington state, a year-long grassroots campaign by three mothers culminated in an all-day summit conference and rally in February that helped produce a bill in the legislature to institute state funding for local school libraries.But teenagers are also regular users of public library services. Almost all the nation's public libraries now offer programs tailored to the needs and interests of young adults, and more than half employ at least one full-time staff equivalent in this area, a sharp increase in the past decade.Computer and on-line games have also become part of the mix at many public libraries, and some use gaming to attract new patrons. The full text of the 2008 State of America's Libraries is available at http://www.ala.org/2008State.
Monday, 14 April 2008
Research reveals need to raise mental health awareness
Young people are not using mental health services because they are worried about the stigma attached, research funded by the Big Lottery has found. The study, carried out by Mind Cymru, looked at young people's experiences of mental health services in rural Wales. Researchers found a lack of promotion of mental health issues in schools, further education colleges, doctors' surgeries and by employers. The young people also said the media gave out negative information about mental health, which could influence their views. To tackle the problems, the study has recommended there should be a national mental health awareness programme, and young people who need to use mental health services should be supported by an advocate.
Monday, 7 April 2008
Parents make greater use of Internet
Parents are far more likely to use the internet regularly than adults without children, according to research published today, and what they are doing online varies with the age of their offspring.
The research, carried out in a dozen countries by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA), reinforces the view that people with children stay at home more than other adults, but also shows that for parents the internet is a source of information and entertainment.
The EIAA's Digital Families report looks at how parents use the internet, sometimes on their own and sometimes with their children beside them at the keyboard. It found that almost three-quarters of adults who live with children log on to the internet every week, compared with 52% of childless adults. Digital parents spend an average of 11.6 hours a week online, up 36% since 2004, according to the EIAA.
People with babies and infants are increasingly visiting websites dealing with health issues. Adults with children aged between five and nine focus on gaming websites, many seeking entertainment that their children can enjoy, while parents of teenagers are spending more time on price comparison websites.
The research, carried out in a dozen countries by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA), reinforces the view that people with children stay at home more than other adults, but also shows that for parents the internet is a source of information and entertainment.
The EIAA's Digital Families report looks at how parents use the internet, sometimes on their own and sometimes with their children beside them at the keyboard. It found that almost three-quarters of adults who live with children log on to the internet every week, compared with 52% of childless adults. Digital parents spend an average of 11.6 hours a week online, up 36% since 2004, according to the EIAA.
People with babies and infants are increasingly visiting websites dealing with health issues. Adults with children aged between five and nine focus on gaming websites, many seeking entertainment that their children can enjoy, while parents of teenagers are spending more time on price comparison websites.
Research into digital media and technology
The National Youth Agency supported research carried out by the Institute for Public Policy Research to explore the changing nature of young people's experiences of information and communication networks mediated through digital media and technology. The main findings of the research are:
Young people have contradictory attitudes towards the Internet eg opportunities to socialise online, but it can be ‘addictive’
Attitudes to privacy and safety are contradictory eg ‘self advertising’ on social networking sites, but concern about strangers looking at their profiles
Attitudes to meeting new people are contradictory eg strong norms against meeting new people, but happy to meet up with ‘friends of friends’
Cyberbullying is not a recognised concern
The report makes a number of recommendations for regulation around this issue but also pushes for an extension of media literacy to include online safety. It specifically mentions the non-formal sector and youth work as a means of supporting young people’s online activity.
Young people have contradictory attitudes towards the Internet eg opportunities to socialise online, but it can be ‘addictive’
Attitudes to privacy and safety are contradictory eg ‘self advertising’ on social networking sites, but concern about strangers looking at their profiles
Attitudes to meeting new people are contradictory eg strong norms against meeting new people, but happy to meet up with ‘friends of friends’
Cyberbullying is not a recognised concern
The report makes a number of recommendations for regulation around this issue but also pushes for an extension of media literacy to include online safety. It specifically mentions the non-formal sector and youth work as a means of supporting young people’s online activity.
Friday, 4 April 2008
Careers advice services require 'massive' overhaul
Local authorities need to devote more resources to Connexions and ensure the service delivers high-quality, impartial careers advice to young people, an inquiry has found. The Skills Commission's six-month inquiry into information, advice and guidance services in England concluded there should be a "massive" overhaul of outdated careers advice.
The report, Inspiration and Aspiration recommended scrutiny bodies in Parliament and local authorities should review local authority delivery of Connexions and assess whether enough funding is being provided. The commission's report also said the government should make it a legal requirement for schools and colleges to provide careers advice to young people up to the age of 18.
The study discovered concern from teachers' unions about the quality of careers education and guidance in schools. It also found good-quality careers guidance does help young people's progress through the education system.
A separate Skills Commission and Edge study, Mystery Shopping for Careers Advice: Connexions found advice offered in high-street Connexions branches to be inadequate. It found personal advisers did not take young people's visits seriously enough. The best services were through telephone call centres, where users felt they were greeted well, advisers were interested and the answers they received could help them progress.
The report, Inspiration and Aspiration recommended scrutiny bodies in Parliament and local authorities should review local authority delivery of Connexions and assess whether enough funding is being provided. The commission's report also said the government should make it a legal requirement for schools and colleges to provide careers advice to young people up to the age of 18.
The study discovered concern from teachers' unions about the quality of careers education and guidance in schools. It also found good-quality careers guidance does help young people's progress through the education system.
A separate Skills Commission and Edge study, Mystery Shopping for Careers Advice: Connexions found advice offered in high-street Connexions branches to be inadequate. It found personal advisers did not take young people's visits seriously enough. The best services were through telephone call centres, where users felt they were greeted well, advisers were interested and the answers they received could help them progress.
OFCOM report into attitudes, behaviours and use
Ofcom research shows that almost half of children aged 8-17 who use the internet have set up their own profile on a social networking site. Some under-13s are by-passing the age restrictions on social networking sites. Despite the fact that the minimum age for most major social networking sites is usually 13 (14 on MySpace), 27% of 8-11 year olds who are aware of social networking sites say that they have a profile on a site. 41% of 8-17 year olds with visible profiles said their profile could be seen by anyone.
Children are more likely to use Bebo (63% of those who have a social networking site profile), while the most popular site for adults is Facebook (62% of those who have a social networking profile). There is also a difference between socio-economic groups: ABC1s with a social networking profile were more likely to use Facebook than C2DEs, who were more likely to have a profile on MySpace.
Two-thirds of parents claim to set rules on their child’s use of social networking sites, although only 53% of children said that their parents set such rules. For many children, the rules and restrictions that their parents set on social networking site usage are an important influencing factor in the child’s use of social networking sites. Most commonly these concerned meeting new people online and giving out personal details.
This report also contains interesting findings about adults' use of social networking sites.
Children are more likely to use Bebo (63% of those who have a social networking site profile), while the most popular site for adults is Facebook (62% of those who have a social networking profile). There is also a difference between socio-economic groups: ABC1s with a social networking profile were more likely to use Facebook than C2DEs, who were more likely to have a profile on MySpace.
Two-thirds of parents claim to set rules on their child’s use of social networking sites, although only 53% of children said that their parents set such rules. For many children, the rules and restrictions that their parents set on social networking site usage are an important influencing factor in the child’s use of social networking sites. Most commonly these concerned meeting new people online and giving out personal details.
This report also contains interesting findings about adults' use of social networking sites.
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