Critical Perspectives on Technology and the Family

Reviewed by Schutta Richard, Lecturer, University of Wisconsin-Stout on 8/7/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book touches on a wide-range of material, I like its thoroughness and depth. This is a book that has intradisciplinary appeal; this book could be used as a text in a family comm course or in a media technology/media effects course.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

I did not notice any issues with accuracy; however, I think some sections could be sourced better or lacked a cited source.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

As of 2024, the material is relevant, but the material will need to be updated more frequently to keep up the rapid change in technology and its impact on communication and families.

Clarity rating: 5

A topic like family and technology could get bogged down in scholarly jargon, however this book avoids that trap. It was a very easy, and enjoyable read while maintaining a scholarly tone.

Consistency rating: 5

The material is consistent throughout.

Modularity rating: 5

I felt this was a strength of the book is the ability to use the book in its entirety, or select sections. I plan to pull from select sections in future classes.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics flows logically, offering an overview then breaks into various related topics. The logical flow is coherent, yet you could have each section stand alone and there would still be logical consistency.

Interface rating: 5

I printed out the PDF version and all the charts, graphs, and images were clear. The document was printed so all the content was accessible- this is nice for readers who prefer physical copies. I also accessed the text online and the navigation is easy. There were no distractions to the reader.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

None that were clearly noted. If any, they are minor and do not distract from the content.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I think this book does a nice job in its inclusivity. I felt no bias in the text and is one of the more fair, non-biased books I've read in some time!.

Comments

I felt there was some content that was not properly sourced and the citations lacked consistency in format. I think more reference to original sources could be beneficial too. Otherwise, this was a great resource that I will plan to use in future courses.

Reviewed by Kerry Youso, Early Childhood Education Faculty, St. Cloud Technical & Community College on 4/17/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text covers all areas of the subject "Technology and the Family" and provides a clear glossary with contents. Important perspectives often missed by other authors are covered here: parental technology use, impacts on parent-child relationships, and policy.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is accurate and well-researched.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

With exponential, rapid changes in media technology, it is imperative that a text be up-to-date while providing foundations for evaluating and thinking critically in the future when facing new innovations. This text meets that requirement, and updates can be added with ease.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is research-based and fills "the need for our undergraduate students to be prepared for professional and personal life in a digital universe" as stated by Susan Walker in the "about the author" section.

Consistency rating: 5

The flow of the textbook is consistent.

Modularity rating: 5

The text uses headings and subheadings and can easily be broken into readings or pieced together to focus just on the outcomes for the course the instructor is designing.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are organized in a way that could be course modules.

Interface rating: 5

The text can be navigated with ease.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text is well-edited with no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Represents and includes diverse races, ethnicities and backgrounds in phots and in content.

Comments

This is a high-quality text that includes every topic you could possibly need when addressing media technology and the family. I will use parts of this text in Family and Community Relations and other Early Childhood Education courses. Each chapter includes "Learning Activities" that can be used for assignments or discussion prompts. They are activities that value critical thinking, personal reflection, and application of learning.