Abstract

TIMBO MARTINS, Luana  and  R. DE CASTRO, Lucia. Children in the contemporary: between the demands of school life and of the technological society. Rev.latinoam.cienc.soc.niñez juv [online]. 2011, vol.9, n.2, pp.619-634. ISSN 1692-715X.

This article discusses the possible tensions between the way the school organizes itself in order to fulfill its role of cultural transmission and the increasing demands of the technological society, such as those competences required by the information technologies. It is argued that the present school organization is related to one mode of world presentation different from that which grounds the technological innovations of the contemporary consumer culture. These two ways of world presentation to children involve different affective and cognitive processes. The aim of the empirical research conducted in a private school in Rio de Janeiro was to examine how students related their technological and school experiences. The methodology consisted of a participant observation in a 3rd grade class of elementary school, complemented with interviews. The results showed four axes along which it is possible to characterize the shifts promoted by technology in the modes of subjectification: learning, concentration, time/space, and effort/pleasure. We conclude that the empowerment given to children, by the access to technology may become void. It is the role of educators to reflect about how this power can take a course which helps children to make a more productive use of information technologies.

Keywords : Children; Technological Society; Education; School.

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