OTHER TOOLS: INTERNET-BASED TOOLS

Internet-Based Tools

The Internet offers a vast array of opportunities for the practice of executive-functioning skills. Common applications of the Internet, such as searching for information, involve strategies such as where to begin (task initiation), determining what is important as opposed to irrelevant (prioritization and planning), and continuously thinking about what one is attempting to achieve (metacognition). Conversely, the online experience often results in kids and parents becoming lost in cyberspace, being easily distracted by a myriad of interesting websites that grab one’s interest (sustained attention). As a consequence, kids (and adults) may spend an inordinate amount of time engaged in exploring (time management).

The Internet also provides many other opportunities for the development of executive functions. Specific Internet tools, such as social bookmarking sites (Delicious, Digg, Reddit) are excellent opportunities for practicing and developing organizational skills and for communicating with others who share similar interests. Google also offers a range of tools that help with organization, scheduling, and working as part of a team.

The Internet also provides an amazing collection of tools to support children and their families with school-based tasks. A wealth of homework sites that not only assist with specific academic skills, but also can help with organization, planning, and task completion (persistence) is available. Other computer sites serve to enhance communication among schools, families, and the children who attend these schools. Sites such as Homeworknow.com, Classhomework.com, and Thehomeworksite.com provide opportunities for teachers to post homework and to communicate regularly with parents.

Perhaps the most engaging Internet experience for many children is Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). These online games, in which thousands of individuals can play simultaneously, are used increasingly by children as young as 5 or 6.  Games such as Webkins, Clubkins World, Club Penguin, Whyville, and Nicktropolis are the most popular for younger children. Children who are school-age and older are often involved in the World of Warcraft, Habbo Hotel, and RuneScape. MMOGs provide opportunities for practicing social thinking, planning and organization, working memory, and goal-directed persistence.

For teenagers, the most popular use of the Internet is for communicating with others. Whether this be through instant messaging (AIM), e-mail to their friends, or their involvement on social-networking sites such as Face Book or My Space, young people are truly drawn to this aspect of the Internet. Many parents have commented that teenagers spend an excessive amount of time involved in these pursuits. While this is often true, there are a number of skills that can be developed through social networking, including developing social thinking skills, organization and planning skills, and goal-directed persistence, particularly as it relates to completing content on social networking pages. The creation of other Internet content, such as videos, podcasts, and modification (mods) of video games, is also an opportunity to practice and develop executive skills such as planning, goal-directed persistence, and metacognition.  LearningWorks for Kids guides and playbooks provide strategies that assist children in identifying their use of executive skills (detect) and help parents then to get their children to think about their use of executive functions with the technologies (reflect) and in the real world (connect).

Specific technologies that are useful for supporting, practicing, and developing executive-functioning skills include:

Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs)
Social networking sites
Social bookmarking sites
Internet search and organization sites
Education sites