Is Google Making Us Stupid?

As a technology teacher, this is an argument I have heard again and again. Is Google making us stupid? Have students' attention spans deteriorated? What happened to the days when people enjoyed a good book? I feel myself secretly observing my students as they work thinking about these issues, and what kind of long term effects we will see through the "net generation". Although it is tempting to assume the worst, as Carr would lead us to believe, I can't agree that the Internet is making us any less smart. Is it changing the way we once learned, think, or even approach new information? Yes, however, I truly believe there is still learning occurring, just different than we have ever experienced.  We are multitasking better than ever, skimming information, pulling out ideas, and these are all skills that shouldn't be negated as negative.

However, I believe the amount of options, endless resources at our fingertips is the true culprit. Is that we cannot concentrate for long periods of time, or that we cannot ignore the impulse to look at the other countless options we know are right there in front of us.  Almost as if it's a "grass is greener" technology syndrome. This article is good, but there's probably a better, more interesting one I can be reading right now! It is teaching 101. Any experienced teacher would tell you, don't give them too many options, your afternoon will be shot. Give them three or four to pick from. Well, as a technology teacher I have to adhere to this. While doing a research project, I always give my students suggested web sties, no more than five, to gather their information from. Other wise, I find 45 minutes haves gone by, and my students have one sentence. However, I feel the focus should be on a common theme we've been discussing throughout this course; how we, as educators should and can adapt our teaching to our students' learning environment. Check out this great article for more information!

Kids, Tech and Those Shrinking Attention Spans

"instead of lamenting the changes that technology has wrought upon the brains of our children, perhaps it's time to ask how the environment our kids learn in (i.e., school) can adapt to the world they live in.."

-D.Graber