JIM-Study
The JIM-Study is an annual study published by the Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverband Südwest (MFS) about media consumption of children between the age of 12 and 19. In their surveys the MFS reveals in my opinion partially shocking results.
Media has become one major aspect in the life of the interviewees. Especially the result about the possession of media devices is appaling: 100% of the interview children do have a cell phone and a computer in their households, 99% of the household do possess a television set and 98% of the interviewed children do have access to the internet (page 6). Luckily the MFS differentiates between boys and girls. But the outcome as almost as devastating as the overall percentage: 98% of the girls and 96% of the boys possess an own cell phone, and almost 80% of both genders do have a computer of their own (page 8).
Nevertheless the children do have other activities in their leisure time than sitting in from of the television or the computer. 83% of the girls and 87% of the boys state that they like to meet with their friends the most and 63% of the girls and 78% of the girls state that they are participating a sports club or do sports in general (page9). This indicates that even though the interviewed children a perfectly equipped with all the newest technological devices, they meet with their peer groups and do sports after all.
According to the MFS the children's preferences are as follows: The most important media still seems to be any portable device which is able to play music, but is already closely followed by surfing the internet. The internet has established itself in the daily life of these young adolescents. More and more social activities are made online rather than in good old personal communication. According to the MFS every child averagely surfs the internet for 138 minutes on every weekday (page 60).
All tendencies point to a growing use of media in the children's daily life.
As documented on over 60 pages in the actual study and briefly in this portfolio entry the New Media have gained an important role in the life of the interviewed young adolescent. We as future teacher have to think about this "natural affinity" and try to integrate New Media into the conceptualization of our future lessons. With the help of New Media lessons which originally seemed boring and mind numbing in the traditional way of teaching might become interesting and exiting after all. That is an goal every teacher should pursue...
For further elaboration see Essay - Classrooms Exclusively Online in the Future