Invisible in classroms: lost in cyberspace

Whether or not children are safe online, whether or not they become socialized beings capable of full participation in the learning process, and whether or not they are running up astronomical text messaging bills is up to their parents. And, some parents are failing the grade miserably.

Teachers are struggling to cope with “invisible children” in their primary school classrooms. They are the cyber-space orphans, who are lost in a world of computer games and are too timid to speak up in class. They not developed social skills because their world revolves around cyberspace and sending text messages.

The Department of Education in Britain estimates there are tens of thousands of invisible children, who are passively disengaged from the learning process. They retreat from contact. They sometimes have mental health issues. They are more likely to be kids who later suffer from depression.

Signs of an Invisible Child:

• They are quiet and undemanding.
• Don’t mind not getting immediate attention and will sit for long periods waiting for it.
• Are uncomfortable with open-ended questions.
• Have strategies to avoid the teacher’s gaze.
• If a boy, bubbly and keen to respond, but unlikely to think before responding.

Related blog posts:
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
Internet Safety Advisor: Keeping Children Safe Online
The High Cost of Texting
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