I confess to being a multi-tasker. While typing this blog entry, I am listening to a television program and eating a snack. Within the matter of a few minutes, I have paused to let the dog in, restart the dryer, and answer the telephone. I relish the thought of simply sitting and reading, because it seems to rarely happens. Today I watched the television program Digital Nation on PBS. It's a documentary about the current state of the ways technology is influencing our lives. A theme throughout the program is the amount of multitasking done by students and how much this impacts their learning. The research in this area is limited, but early studies indicate that the brain can really only do one thing really well at a time. Consider driving, studying, and having a conversation. Students believe they can do 5-6 or more things at once all of the time. Teachers wonder about the decline in writing and reading skills and how much of this can be contributed to an increase in technology
The program narrators wonder if we are creating people who are unable to think well and clearly. Are we changing what it means to be a human being? Wow, these are important questions. The program also describes students in South Korea who have become addicted to video games to the point that they go to Internet addiction camp. Researchers wonder about the impact of the Internet on the brain. I do too! I have read such concerns before, but have not taken them very seriously. Like everything else, there must be a balance. Why did the parent let her child play video games for 50 hours straight without food or water? Have some become so wrapped up that they can't turn it off? Is technology just masking problems that have existed long before we powered-up?
I have to admit the program made me have some doubts. I know that multitasking is a problem, and the availability to instant information contributes to this - the urgent "need" to jump from one technology to another. I see my son and his addiction to his cell phone - is there cell phone addiction camp? I wonder how much the integration of technology into instruction contributes to this phenomenon. Food for thought.
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I watched the program online and thought that it's a very good program. It raises important questions that make us think deeper. We are pulled into different directions and rarely have focused time to do anything seriously. Everybody in our family is with computer or cell phones constantly, but we are able to stop and spend time with each other. It feels good not to be addicted to the tools we use all the time. It's important to know that we can function well with or without the technology or tools.
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were younger we used to have "electric free weekends". It helped all of us to focus on our relationships more. But as they got older, I got involved inteaching online, we neglected to do that at a time where we should have been doing it more. As a result, we would all be in the computer room on the tv, phone or one of the computers at the same time. The sharing became something different. We shared what we were doing online or a show because we at least were in the same room. We have no dining room, but 2 computers a tv and an xbox set up there(a bit cramped). But we were communicating about our enjoyable hobbies. Sharing our interests, the high points of a game, a new zoo created or a funny youtube video. If kids and parents take their tech to another location, there is no sharing.
ReplyDeleteI saw that show too and was facinated by some parent reactions as you mentioned. When my son was 13 or so I realized he was on the computer for several hours(before the dining room setup) and finally asked him to stop. "but Mom, I am making a cool map for the game". He has been working on his passion of map making for his favorite game. he would upload the maps to the game site for others to use! I had no idea this was possible. 7 years later he is at Full SAil in the gaming program so he can be a map and landscape designer for video games! My point is that monitoring is the key to communication and knowledge of what your kids are doing online and encouragement or punishment can affect the direction of their participation. Ask what the game is what part they play and be interested in their world. I matters to them and it creates some crazy conversation, even if it is about how zombies walk funny!
I do agree that parents have to set some boundaries with technology. I told my children that I see them using their cell phone when we are eating at a restaurant, we won't go out to eat for a month. I figure if I am taking them out to eat (something they love to do), then I deserve their full attention. The same is true for the dinner table - no phone calls, no texting, for kids and adults. Sometimes I like to leave the house to go the the store or run an errand without my cell phone. This really freaks out my kids. "What if I need to get ahold of you?" Most of the time it's just things like "Where are my jeans" or "My sister took the last cookie." Not urgent or life-threatening. I just like to have a little piece and quiet.
ReplyDeleteIt's about teaching balance and manners. Kids still need taught manners; that won't ever change. It's just now, some new variables have been introduced.
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