Thanx, Mia!
YES!
Hey Mom,
practice
done at 5
will pick
you up
then xo
Send
an e-mail
For short messages, texting
is great. But to really connect,
type and send a letter-like
e-mail—with pictures—to
a friend or family
member.
Chat
via video
Too far away to meet
in person? Turn a
face-to-face convo
into a screen-to-
screen chat.
Share
something
With the OK from your
parents, write a post, take
a pic, or shoot a video, and
share it with your friends
using an app added to
your device.
Blog about it
A blog is like an online journal
that you give permission to
certain people (such as your
family) to read. With help from
a parent, write posts about a
project you’re researching or
a good cause you’re
supporting.
Launch an IM
Want to get a group
chat going? Invite your
friends, classmates, or
family members to
an instant-message
group.
Run for the world!
connected classroom
If you’ve ever searched online for Rosa Parks facts for social studies,
prepped for a multiplication test using an online math game, or set
up your erupting-volcano science fair project with tips from an online
tutorial, then you already know there’s tons to learn in the digital world.
As you work your way to the head of the class, these other ways of
tapping into technology can also help you make the grade.
Teacher time
Home sick from school? To get
assignments and materials, check in
with teachers on their websites or
by sending e-mails. You don’t have
to fall behind when a bug’s
got you down.
Classy computers
Computers and digital devices are go-to places for info, just like
the classroom and library bookshelves. What’s more, they can spice
up a lesson with audio and video. Instead of photos in a textbook,
imagine a time-lapse video of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly!
Classroom tech can also get you learning with recording apps, interac-
tive whiteboards, and slide shows produced by you.
Digital study
buddy
During at-home study time, send
a group e-mail or start a closed
chat page. It’s easy to connect
with other students in your class
when you need help with an
assignment or just want to test
one another on the state capitals
and spelling word list.
Search-and-click
resources
In addition to books and maga-
zines, your library may have spe-
cial search engines for students,
online encyclopedias and data-
bases, and homework-helping
software when you need to
write a report or prep for a quiz.
Group project
Finding a time for everyone to work on a group project can be tricky,
especially when one person has soccer practice, one is babysitting,
and one is at a chess tournament. Digital resources allow everyone
to check in when they can using e-mail or text, and to work together
using closed-group pages approved by teachers and parents.
digital mom and dad
When your parents were growing up, they didn’t have most of the
gadgets and apps you have today. But that doesn’t mean they’re living
in the digital dark ages. In fact, they are using technology in lots of ways
that you may not know about yet, but one day will. Here are just some
of the ways they go digital to manage their lives—and yours.
shopping
working
paying bills
scheduling
appointments
ordering pizza!
learning
the ropes
Fun and games. School tools.
Staying in touch. Managing life!
With so much that’s good about
technology, is there a downside?
Technology can offer freedoms you
don’t find in the real world. But
the freedom comes with respon-
sibility, which means your parents
need to assist for a while, until you
learn the online ropes. It’s not that
they don’t trust you. It’s because online actions
have consequences you may not know about.
The digital world is a big place. When you’re texting a friend or posting
a photo, literally anyone