Being a student we have to multitask our time. We might have to write an English paper while also having to write an Education paper. Multitasking is a part of our lives, but some people take it to the extreme and use it in a negative way like they will be researching for a paper but then gets on facebook, a friend texts them, then gets on Itunes.
Some people can handle multitasking to the exteme, and can do like 5 things at once. Personally I can't do that, I can maybe do like 2-3 things at a time before I get side track to do something else.
To be devil's advocate: each generation changes and uses different ways of gaining knowledge. What were educators saying when radios were gaining popularity? - and TVs? What about librarians who wouldn't let go of their card catalogs?
While I certainly believe that we need to unplug a little more often - such as during concerts or at the dinner table - being online and interacting is evolving into something new. An across the board "It's bad for kids" just doesn't seem to address the complexities of what "interaction", "community", "communication", etc., mean right now and how we are in the middle of a huge redefinition.
But aren't we as human beings constantly evolving? Not to say that this generation is better able to think clearly and give greater attention to multiple tasks, but might they have a bit more capability, and be paving the way for future generations to not only rapidly switch from task to task, but actually truly multi-task?
Humans used to rapidly switch, when we were hunter-gatherers. We deepened our mental abilities when we began creating and listening to such things as Homerian epics. Then by reading and writing books.
Humans evolved to be able to process and apply broader, deeper aspects of life.
But in the last hundred years or so, every generation has had more opportunities to access shorter and shorter pieces of information that are more and more widely disseminated. Beginning with pamphlets, newspaper articles, radio, TV, email, and now Tweets (with lots of things in the middle of those examples, of course).
We are moving in an "easier" direction, but not an intellectually deeper direction.
Thank you for your post...as an instructional tech, or, computer teacher, I see it firsthand...greater inability to focus, greatly diminished attention spans and heightened need for high speed input. All of those make for a dramatically different classroom environment than just a decade ago.
My observation has been that our children aren't interacting with others any more. They are too busy playing online games, even when they are together. I think they need to spend more time with personal interaction with friends and family!
I am an elementary school teacher as well as the step-parent of an 11 year old boy obsessed with media. I know from my experiences in my classroom that students attentions spans are shorter than ever. Media has become almost an addiction for some kids...they are becoming unable to focus and stay on task unless the constant beeps and blinking lights from a video/computer game are present. It is no surprise to me that the incidences of ADHD are on the rise, our children are not forced to focus. Parents and even teachers find it easier to pacify them with gaming instead of doing the much tougher job of being a parent or a teacher and actually interacting with them. I too am sickened when I see children glued to a DS or a cell phone in public. I can't tell you how many times, while riding in a car, my stepson has asked to play a game on our phone. Can't children look out the window? read? play a car game with the family? I can tell you that our answer to his question is most often "NO!" We spend time with our son, time that involves outside, family games, and yes sometimes just talking and having some "un-plugged" time.
I'm not sure what would be wrong with parents saying, "No, you can't text during your sister's play. You should watch, it would mean a lot to her".
Teaching our kids to sacrifice is not a bad thing...the alternative is much worse.
But aren't we as human beings constantly evolving? Not to say that this generation is better able to think clearly and give greater attention to multiple tasks, but might they have a bit more capability, and be paving the way for future generations to not only rapidly switch from task to task, but actually truly multi-task?
Our brains do one task at a time. But the use of technology by students isn't my worry. I worry about the students who have no access to technology. For example, my elementary chorus students need to access my moodle site to practice their chorus music and memorise it by a deadline. Less than 10 percent do not have home internet access. Students who have no home internet access AND whose parents never take them to a public library may never get to use an electronic communications device except in school. Their limited access is a significate barrier their learning how to be part of today's society. Most of the enrichment resources provided by our state DOE are only available online.
Student Teacher, 2nd grade, Forked River School, NJ
Like everything else... change begins at home, with the parents, the family attitude, the expectations and standards that our children are held to.
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Being a student we have to
Being a student we have to multitask our time. We might have to write an English paper while also having to write an Education paper. Multitasking is a part of our lives, but some people take it to the extreme and use it in a negative way like they will be researching for a paper but then gets on facebook, a friend texts them, then gets on Itunes.
Some people can handle multitasking to the exteme, and can do like 5 things at once. Personally I can't do that, I can maybe do like 2-3 things at a time before I get side track to do something else.
Quote: But aren't we as human -- does this devolve us?
To be devil's advocate: each generation changes and uses different ways of gaining knowledge. What were educators saying when radios were gaining popularity? - and TVs? What about librarians who wouldn't let go of their card catalogs?
While I certainly believe that we need to unplug a little more often - such as during concerts or at the dinner table - being online and interacting is evolving into something new. An across the board "It's bad for kids" just doesn't seem to address the complexities of what "interaction", "community", "communication", etc., mean right now and how we are in the middle of a huge redefinition.
Quote: But aren't we as human -- does this devolve us?
But aren't we as human beings constantly evolving? Not to say that this generation is better able to think clearly and give greater attention to multiple tasks, but might they have a bit more capability, and be paving the way for future generations to not only rapidly switch from task to task, but actually truly multi-task?
Humans used to rapidly switch, when we were hunter-gatherers. We deepened our mental abilities when we began creating and listening to such things as Homerian epics. Then by reading and writing books.
Humans evolved to be able to process and apply broader, deeper aspects of life.
But in the last hundred years or so, every generation has had more opportunities to access shorter and shorter pieces of information that are more and more widely disseminated. Beginning with pamphlets, newspaper articles, radio, TV, email, and now Tweets (with lots of things in the middle of those examples, of course).
We are moving in an "easier" direction, but not an intellectually deeper direction.
The future will show...
SBauer
Exactly
Thank you for your post...as an instructional tech, or, computer teacher, I see it firsthand...greater inability to focus, greatly diminished attention spans and heightened need for high speed input. All of those make for a dramatically different classroom environment than just a decade ago.
out of touch with others
My observation has been that our children aren't interacting with others any more. They are too busy playing online games, even when they are together. I think they need to spend more time with personal interaction with friends and family!
too much media
I am an elementary school teacher as well as the step-parent of an 11 year old boy obsessed with media. I know from my experiences in my classroom that students attentions spans are shorter than ever. Media has become almost an addiction for some kids...they are becoming unable to focus and stay on task unless the constant beeps and blinking lights from a video/computer game are present. It is no surprise to me that the incidences of ADHD are on the rise, our children are not forced to focus. Parents and even teachers find it easier to pacify them with gaming instead of doing the much tougher job of being a parent or a teacher and actually interacting with them. I too am sickened when I see children glued to a DS or a cell phone in public. I can't tell you how many times, while riding in a car, my stepson has asked to play a game on our phone. Can't children look out the window? read? play a car game with the family? I can tell you that our answer to his question is most often "NO!" We spend time with our son, time that involves outside, family games, and yes sometimes just talking and having some "un-plugged" time.
I'm not sure what would be wrong with parents saying, "No, you can't text during your sister's play. You should watch, it would mean a lot to her".
Teaching our kids to sacrifice is not a bad thing...the alternative is much worse.
But aren't we as human
But aren't we as human beings constantly evolving? Not to say that this generation is better able to think clearly and give greater attention to multiple tasks, but might they have a bit more capability, and be paving the way for future generations to not only rapidly switch from task to task, but actually truly multi-task?
No plug
Our brains do one task at a time. But the use of technology by students isn't my worry. I worry about the students who have no access to technology. For example, my elementary chorus students need to access my moodle site to practice their chorus music and memorise it by a deadline. Less than 10 percent do not have home internet access. Students who have no home internet access AND whose parents never take them to a public library may never get to use an electronic communications device except in school. Their limited access is a significate barrier their learning how to be part of today's society. Most of the enrichment resources provided by our state DOE are only available online.
Student Teacher, 2nd grade,
Student Teacher, 2nd grade, Forked River School, NJ
Like everything else... change begins at home, with the parents, the family attitude, the expectations and standards that our children are held to.