06/11/2020
CTR Weekly 6/3/2020: Don't Guess My Race; Science Island and Who Am I? Race Awareness Game
Note: This is what is sent to paid subscribers every week by email. Subscribe for $60/year at www.childrenstech.com/subscribe
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Many African-Americans are aware of racial and ethnic diversity within their communities. Yet, mainstream music, television and film often homogenize Black culture, ignoring the complexity of identity. Perhaps because of this, people who aren't Black are often unaware of this rich diversity. If people were more aware of the diversity that makes up all racial groups, they might be more likely to take others seriously as individuals, rather than as tokens of groups." From Don't Guess My Race, reviewed below.
In terms of new apps, there's not a lot of news for this week, so I decided to dig a bit into the some Toy Fair 2020 footage (see Sago Mini's Hot Dog Truck). I also updated an older app that we reviewed ten years ago (Guess Race) based on the work of cultural anthropologist Michael Baran. While it's nice to see that you can still play core games, it would be nice if someone updated the interface and included actual video interviews of the participants. I was pleased to discover that there's a free app based on this work that turns your iPad into an ethnicity guessing game. Here's a video with one round --> https://youtu.be/Vluw4wmVm8g
Read the full review in CTREX or below.
TOYS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT: Sago Mini's Hot Dog Truck
During Toy Fair 2020 we spotted some fresh additions to the Sago Mini Toy line -- including our favorite -- the hot dog truck. https://youtu.be/M1zmkk49o7c
THREE NEW REVIEWS:
Don't Guess My Race by Interactive Diversity Solutions, www.interactivediversitysolutions.com, ($free on Windows, Mac OSX, Chrome, Internet Site), for ages 3-up.
Formerly an app for iOS, this is now part of a larger consulting business. But you can play a free demo (login required) at
https://www.interactivediversitysolutions.com/app/login.
You start by seeing a photo, and then try to guess the cultural category of the person (White, Black, Jewish, Egyptian and so on). After you make a guess, you learn read a short biography of the person, and learn that the way that they define themselves can be very complicated. You also learn how powerful culture is when influencing how people think about race. The experience is based on the work of Michael Baran who now does a lot of corporate consulting to help organizations become more sensitive to ethnicity issues. This exercise is designed to help you learn more about race and diversity; which can help you reduce bias, and carry on courageous conversations.
Some other quotes from the app:
"Many African-Americans are aware of racial and ethnic diversity within their communities. Yet, mainstream music, television and film often homogenize Black culture, ignoring the complexity of identity. Perhaps because of this, people who aren't Black are often unaware of this rich diversity. If people were more aware of the diversity that makes up all racial groups, they might be more likely to take others seriously as individuals, rather than as tokens of groups."
"It's debatable whether being Jewish is ethnic or not. I have a shaved head so I think people see me as a white guy that's mean and uneducated. I hope people don't think I'm a racist. At work I don't worry about it because I have a suit on."
"Some say that the clothes make the man. In 2005, National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern instituted a dress code for basketball players – requiring players to dress in business or conservative attire and banning clothing associated with hip hop and Black fashion such as jerseys, do-rags, large jewelry, and Timberland boots. Many called this policy racist and patronizing. What do you think? How does it make you think about different corporate cultures and their dress codes?"
"Ever use a phrase like "no problemo" or "el cheapo"? It seems funny, and people don't usually do it with bad intentions. However, anthropologist Jane Hill argues that this "mock" Spanish actually reinforces a critical inequity. Spanish speakers have to be extra careful about speaking English exactly right in public spaces while white people can creatively or incorrectly use Spanish and not even realize how this might subtly reinforce the accepted norms of English and whiteness."
CTREX Link: https://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=14065
Science Island by Education Network Group Pty Ltd, www.educationnetworkgroup.com, ($free on Windows, Mac OSX, Internet Site), for ages 8-up.
Good intentions and solid science content meet a clunky, hard to use navigation system in this free browser based online game from Australia. This game was created by the Education Network Group Pty Ltd. Most of the content is delivered via videos. Testers noted a very heavy AU accent.
Content includes 130 videos, plus games, experiments, songs and quizzes to evidence student learning. Have a look at www.scienceisland.com.
CTREX Link: https://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=20251
Who Am I? Race Awareness Game by Interactive Diversity Solutions, www.interactivediversitysolutions.com, ($free on iPad, iPhone https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/who-am-i-race-awareness-game/id372945923?mt=8), for ages 6-up.
"Because skin colors are not just black and white, it my be hard for children to use questions about skin color to eliminate choices in the game. Suggest that they ask whether the person's skin color is lighter or darker than someone you both know."
This is a guessing game where you pass the iPad back and forth between players (e.g., an older child and an adult). First, you choose a person from selection of 20. Next, pass the iPad to the second player. They have to ask questions to eliminate which person you have picked with questions like "is the person young or older, light skin or dark skin, smiling... and so on. The experience, while clunky and hard to use, is designed to stimulate a productive dialogue between adults/educators and children regarding the complex and sensitive issues of race and ethnicity. It is based on the work of Michael Baran, a cultural anthropologist. The free app is available in the Apple iTunes store for iOS devices. Note that this is onto the "Guess Race" game, which has not been updated as of 6/4/2020. Also note that the interface could be improved. For example there is no "back" option on many of the screens, and the game has some pauses that make you wonder if the app is frozen. There also is no audio (it would be better if you could see a video of the people being interviewed). Here is some of the content from the game:
"Have your child pay attention to the way people smile."
"What should you do if your child says the "N-word" or some other derogatory term? They probably are not doing it maliciously but are rather trying out some words they have heard. Don't just tell them it's wrong - explain to them why it's wrong. Tell them about the tragic history linked to these words."
"We're all English, 14 generations back. I've seen reverse discrimination at my company. They are big on diversity - on hiring people born outside the country."
"Children older than 13 might enjoy watching the movie "Rabbit Proof Fence." It demonstrates some interesting and horrific ways that race and race mixing where used for policy in the 1930's in Australia."
Video Link: https://youtu.be/Vluw4wmVm8g
CTREX Link: https://reviews.childrenstech.com/ctr/fullreview.php?id=20255
More wisdom for the week --
Thomas Friedman in the NYTimes reminds us that Lincoln, in our darkest, most divisive hour, was able to dig deep into his soul and find the words “with malice toward none, with charity for all … let us strive on to finish the work we are in” and establish “a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” From https://nyti.ms/2U41vjA
And from Jennifer Lewis, President, Gryphon House (disclaimer, one of my publishers) writes "Let’s provide our children and grandchildren with a better tomorrow. We live together. We hurt together. We can learn together. We can do more. We can do better. Let’s get to work."
Subscription based review service for children's interactive products.
