EdTech

Research shows well-designed video games support children's well-being through identity exploration, creativity, and social connections. The study of 20 UK families found games with solo play options protect safety while allowing children to develop digital literacy, master challenges, and maintain friendships during isolation periods.

The ability of games to provide safe spaces for identity experimentation stands out. Children can explore new interests and self-expression without fear of peer judgment. The customisation features and controlled environments let them trial aspects of identity before taking them into real-world interactions.

"For nine-year-old Penny, Bloxburg (a role-play and life simulation game within the Roblox platform) was an important avenue for exploring aspects of her identity. She was able to play at changing her physical appearance and exploring her developing interest in cooking before trying these changes out in interactions with friends and family."

The article discusses new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on digital accessibility in schools, emphasising the need for educational technology to accommodate all students, including those with disabilities and multilingual learners. The guidance follows updated ADA regulations requiring schools to ensure online content is accessible.

The collaborative approach advocated in the article stands out - the emphasis on breaking down departmental silos and bringing together special educators, IT staff, procurement teams, and school leadership to create comprehensive accessibility solutions. This systemic view of accessibility as a shared responsibility marks a shift from treating it as solely a special education concern.

"When we talk about creating things that are accessible, it's not just a special education department's job. The school leadership needs to be on board with it. The IT department needs to be on board with it, as well as procurement. We need to make sure that we are communicating with each other, sharing ideas and thoughts around what we think about accessibility and how we approach it," says Desmond Rudd.

A media studies teacher at Macleans College advocates for mandatory media literacy education in schools, warning that students lack tools to navigate online dangers like toxic masculinity and misinformation. Currently, media studies remains an elective subject despite growing concerns about digital literacy gaps.

The absence of media studies from New Zealand's core curriculum documents since 2007 reflects a systemic undervaluation of digital literacy education. While some progress has been made with teaching guides, the subject's exclusion from official curriculum booklets hampers its recognition as fundamental to modern education.

"When we had our curriculum written in 2007 media studies was left out of that. We are not in the paper booklet of our national curriculum," says Jerome Cargill, head of media at Macleans College in Auckland.