The researchers at Intuitive Media have produced some thought provoking stuff over recent years, and their latest report on ‘children, TV and the internet’ is no exception. Surveying a sample of 4347 children, aged 6-14 who are users of their SuperClubsPLUS & GoldStarCafe projects, the researchers asked a range of questions about children’s use of TV and the internet.

The result is presented as a series of graphs summarising the key findings, and providing much food for thought in terms of the way in which attitudes about and behaviours towards the use of this media may be changing.

For those in my generation, TV was very much a passive media (one could argue the same for our reading of the newspaper, listening to the radio and the first generation of use of the internet!) The introduction of video recorders altered our behaviour a little by allowing us to ‘time-shift’ the broadcast to suit a time when we could watch our favourite programme, or to re-watch our favourite rugby game.

The result of the MyTV survey reveals that these behaviours are continuing to change, and that younger learners want to be more actively involved in what they are watching on TV – not just in terms of  when and where they want, but they also want to “be part” of it. The results of the survey confirm the trend that children today want to be contributors and participants – more than just consumers.

As educators we need to take note of this, and consider what this suggests for our adoption of digital media into schools and classrooms.

The report is available here (PDF download)