I'm probably like most parents in that I have a love/hate relationship with my child's interest in computers and the Internet--especially on the weekends. On the weekends, L. bounces around at home, unsure what to do with himself, and he often holes himself up in the office for hours on end, clicking and playing his two loves--SimCity and Microsoft Flight Simulator--or visiting favorite websites. [more]

As a teacher and parent, I'm hyper-aware of how much technology has impacted kids today. When I was in college, research and reading all took place in the library, or in a room, with piles of books stacked up on the desk, and note cards with citations and information stuffed into folder pockets and desk drawers. Writing papers was a long process in which you wrote first (sometimes even with a pen!), and then went back and carefully inserted sources and notes. These days, the process has become reversed--or skipped entirely. [more]