Aspirations and Anxiety: Learning and Home Technology and Media Use by Low-Income Families

• In Event: Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Contexts for Learning: A Focus on Media and After-School Programs

Abstract

This paper contributes to the literature on parent attitudes regarding the potential and pitfalls of home media and technology use. Using findings from three studies of parents and children from low-income households, based on data from paper surveys, focus groups, and in-home interviews, we describe how and why parents set limits to guard children against perceived harms, explore how parents encourage experiences they perceive to have greater educational value, and where in some cases they engage along with their children to maximize the education potential of media and technology enhanced experiences. We find that while parents see great potential in technology as a learning tool, demands on their time and lack of information make it difficult to manage children’s experiences.

Authors

• Torie Gorges, SRI International

• Andrea Anushko Rizzo, EDC Center for Children and Technology

• Elizabeth Riley Christiano, SRI International

• Carlin Llorente, SRI International