The accessibility of multiple electronic devices
provides unlimited opportunities for interactions and access to information. Carr (2011) explained how the overuse of
technology has trained the brain to be distracted and thus affecting the ability
to process information (learn) due to the inability to concentrate our attention. Powers (2010) pointed out that the depth of
our existence is suffering due to the failure (lack of self-regulation) to slow
down and focus our thoughts. I agree
with Carr and Powers that the computer encourages busyness, information overload,
dependence on other sources for thought, outsourcing memory, and constant
interactions/connections. James
(1899/2001) explained education as, “…the organization of acquired habits of
conduct and tendencies to behavior” (p. 15).
Technology is changing the habits of behavior. The long-term results may affect the brain’s
ability to concentrate, make connections, and think.
What is the cost or sacrifice that one pays when
continually engaging in the multimedia rich world? How do we self-regulate our attention in a
way that will allow us to get back to engaging in the depth of experiences
while balancing the multimedia technology?
We are losing out on what is around us and building a full understanding of ourselves! I really enjoyed the discussion of the "outer" world and "inner" world by Powers. I think the thing we lose the most is a sense of self. We are constantly sharing our inner thoughts and actions on social media sites and when people comment it makes us rethink our idea. This can be good, but if we constantly change to meet the needs of the outer world can we really understand who we are? Good post Karen!
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteYes, the two mental worlds (internal and external) are at conflict due to dependence on what others say in response to how we should think, feel, and live. “We hear the voices of others, and are directed by those voices, rather than by our own” (Powers, 2010, p. 3). I think this plays out in the classroom when students are reluctant to have a dialogue because they do not know how their peers (class mates) think about a topic. They feel “safer” communicating via social media or maybe it is more familiar to them and that generates more confidence.
After watching the Daniel Kahneman video, it's amazing how much more attention I am paying to experiences. That, in combination with this post's topic of technology brought to mind something I did a week or so ago. I left the cell phone behind, and went "exploring" with my 3 year old. We followed a caterpillar for over an hour, chased butterflies, collected rocks, and saw a baby rabbit. It's those types of experiences you miss out on when you are so wrapped up in texting, surfing the net, and so on. I always think of that book, Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv and how children aren't exposed to nature enough, especially in today's society, they have technology overload.
ReplyDeleteThrough technology, we convey the same amount of information, at a fraction of the engagement achieved in a face to face conversation. This is the great illusion! By fooling ourselves into thinking that communication is merely the sum of the information exchanged, we are overlooking the serendipitous byproducts of real-life engagement. Our engagement with media is not true engagement, we are simply trading turns on the soapbox; yielding the floor to the next in line. We view disengagement from "the mob" as isolation because we have forgotten how to engage people outside of the fire-and-forget, packet exchange of online communication. Thoughts get broadcast to the world the instant they surface, and then we move to the next thought, without ever seeing the reaction on our audience's faces or hearing their gut reactions prior to the carefully worded revision that eventually makes its way back to us in this pingpong exchange of thoughts. Once this connection is severed, the silence is deafening.
ReplyDeleteJennifer and Chris,
ReplyDeleteI think you have made good points that have a similar thread. We are missing out on life when we do not take the time to connect with what is going on in the moment. Our mind is busy on the next thought before the present thought has been processed.