Technology is everywhere...

On my way to Los Angeles last Saturday I began a conversation with a producer sitting next to me.  We started talking about our iPads and how we were always PC users but that we would never go back because we have not gotten viruses and both of our iPads have been very reliable for us thus far.  He was probably in his 40's and he was telling me about his miracle baby and how his family is trying to limit his son's technology use.  He told me how his little four year old knows how to use an iPad perfectly and that him and his wife broke down and bought a playstation as well.  He told me about a game that I cannot remember the name of now but how cool it is and how it integrates a lot of different basic skills. 
Once he finsihed telling me about the game I started talking about our degree in integrating technology in schools.  I told him that it is okay to use technology but that I approved of him limiting it at home.  I told him about our ITS belief in that students are not all ADHD but that most of them are super bored at school because they are overly stimulated at home.  I also told him the reason for that is that a lot of teachers are not using technology properly.  My biggest piece of advice to him was that when his little boy plays games is to help him learn how to reflect on what the game taught him.  Too many teachers and parents skip this part but it is actually the most meaningful.  It helps the student synthesize all of the different ideas that were presented in the game! 
It was really fun to talk about all of the things I have learned while being an ITSer and to give him some parental advice even though I do not even know his name!  Always remembering to reflect on games is what he told me he would tell his wife.  Hopefully they will!