Is the internet affecting the way we think?

While watching the video by PBS on the affects of using multiple devices on our children, URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/ , it really struck me how much our younger generation has changed the way they live.  I thought it was annoying when my daughters were constantly texting their friends while sitting with the family or even having a conversation with me, but this video showed that this is a phenomenon across the world.  The students in the video have multiple devices open at one time at all hours of the day, including class time.  I understand that this is the new culture and as teachers we have to use the same devices to engage the students, but as shown in the chapter two discussions on the Brain, using a larger portion of the brain may not necessarily be good.  Just like the body strains and breathing is heavy when one starts an exercise routine, but as the body builds endurance and strength the same routine does not strain the breathing as much.  The body becomes stronger and breathing is more efficient if one is persistent in making exercise a routine.  The same way scientists are finding that multitasking brains have memories that are disorganized and thinking is distracted and not clear. Even though the students are vehement in their belief that they are proficient in multitasking, test scores of MIT students do not back up this claim. 

In chapter 4, on teaching with technology, teachers are shown using technology to help students stay engaged, communicate and problem solve.  One teacher is even using Ning to promote the use of safe social networking, so students can form these types of learning communities.  It was interesting to see disciplinary problems in the school were resolved once the students were actively engaged in all their courses with technology.  But I liked the way the Principal could log onto their computers, from his computer, to spot check on what was happening in the classroom and how the computers were being used.

As an educator I feel it is very important to teach our students how to use this technology wisely.  Yes we have to engage them in the classroom by encouraging its use, but I feel we also need to teach them how to step away from it.  As shown by the section in the video on South Korea’s gaming addiction in the youth.  They are so captured by the games that there have even been instances of deaths when they have not eaten because they were playing a game.  Students are so worried that they will miss some form of communication that they can’t even focus.  When asked to write an essay, they can only write disconnected paragraphs because they are distracted in between their writing.  I believe we can keep our students engaged, but we should help them use the technology for the task on hand.  We can use their cell phones for doing polls, and their computers can be used for collaborative wikis, blogs and problem solving.  Perhaps students could be placed in small groups and given problems to research and solve.  This would keep them motivated to participate because the success of their group would depend on it. It would also encourage them to share ideas, debate options, and offer new solutions.