Look at how much we have accomplished with technology. How much technology has made our life comfortable and easier. It has changed the way we talk to each other. We can’t imagine our life without the use of technology. Technology is providing many advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. One of the disadvantages of technology is distraction which mostly influence on students. Students are constantly wired and connected. For example, this includes cell phones, video games, and the Internet. It can be hard for students to put down the phone. Technological distractions affected their study habits. Matt Richtel is an American writer and journalist for The New York Times who has written an article “Growing up Digital, Wired for Distraction”. …show more content…
Our brain is the most complex structure in the universe, but it can be distracted easily. There are so many things out there that could distract our brain. We are living in the world where mostly everything involved technology in one way or another. Many students are distracted by technology which affect their school work in a negative way. Students are always on top of today technology. They want the latest model phone and tablet. Students can get distracted when their devices buzz and beep constantly. They can’t focus on what they should be focus in which are school work. Richtel claims that “Several recent studies show that young people tend to use home computers for entertainment, not learning and that this can hurt school performance, particularly in low-income families. Jacob L. Vigdor, an economics professor at Duke University who led some of the research, said that when adults were not supervising computer use, children “are left to their own devices, and the impetus isn’t to do homework but play around.” Research also shows that students often juggle homework and entertainment. The Kaiser Family Foundation found earlier this year that half of students from 8 to 18 are using the Internet, watching TV or using some other form of media either “most” (31 percent) or “some” (25 percent) of the time that they are doing homework”. It is impossible for parents to monitor what their children are doing on …show more content…
When students have a choice between study and play on their electronics devices, they mostly chose to play on their electronics devices instead of study and doing homework. It is much more fun and entertaining to play or watching TV
Just spending some time in the modern-day classroom; I have observed several students on their phones. During my high school years we did not have to worry about cell phones or laptops being a constant problem. In Annie Murphy Paul’s “You’ll Never Learn!” she explains the studies of multitasking while students do their homework with the modern-day distraction of the digital age; resulting in a lower quality of learning. I agree with Paul that the digital age is becoming a problem in education, even though educators are leaning towards teaching on a digital spectrum. In this essay, I will explain how a digital age versus a non-digital age is effecting everyone involved in a higher education.
When Christopher Langan’s brother is explaining why Chris did not succeed in school, he says that, “The issue with Chris is that he was always too bored to actually sit there and listen to his teachers” (Gladwell 110). A problem that exists is that students are having trouble concentrating in school and paying attention. These students are more amused by all the technology that could be used instead of paying attention, and they feel that it would help them and entertain them more than listening to teachers talk. This trouble concentrating is also noticeable when employees at work think that because of technology, they do not have to think and remember as much information because they can just look it up or type it in on their phones or tablets to remember it. This may eventually lead to a disadvantage when finding other jobs and achieving the American Dream because the other companies may not use the technology that some people are so used to using.
While admitting the power of technology, he also points out the adverse effects of excessive use of technology in the education system. He states, “Computers make our worst educational nightmare come true” (279). According to him, improper or overuse of computers hinders learning ability. He reports that over the past few years, computers have been assumed to be a necessity in America’s classrooms and introduced to children from elementary levels. However, technology can be addictive, and students may overuse it, leading to a drop in educational standards.
Technology can disrupt people’s train of thought. To begin with, many people around the world use technology. Electronics can help students and also affect them in many ways, but whether or not shutting down all electronics can help. Schools should participate in “Shut Down Your Screen Week” because of many reasons. First of all, using electronics causes people to get distracted.
Technological advancement comes with a price—our focus. Maggie Jackson in her article “A Nation Distracted” explains that technology has promoted a culture of distraction in America. First, the author explains that technology is causing us to engage in more multitasking, which leads to more time spent on completing our tasks. Second, the author notes that studies show that youth and children are adept at using technology, but are deficient in their critical thinking skills, and properly investigating and using the internet. I feel that the author makes an important point when discussing technology is leading to widespread distraction in our society.
It can cause many distractions, it can be difficult to use and can take away from learning time. People are convinced that technology is an effective tool that will further learning. This can be true, but when you use tablets and different devices in class for an hour every day, the students will not be focused on schoolwork. In the article “Technology in the Classroom: Beginnings and Endings”, Mary Ann Matras suggests that, “The pencil is still the most efficient tool”.
If no education is given to them at an early age, then it will become more and more difficult for them to catch up with the rest of their class in their later years. To be brief, If parents do not set their children on a road to success from the beginning, then the children will be bound to a path of hardship and failure. However, simply getting started on the road to success is not enough. The children must properly navigate themselves on that road to reach their destination. But how do the children know to navigate this path? The answer is with the guidance of their parents. When the children become distracted with obstacles like TV and video games, it is the parents’ job to keep them from those distraction and to keep up with them about their grades and make sure that the kids are paying attention in class and are doing well in school. Ms. L’s parent did not keep track of her progression in school. With the lack of guidance from her parents to tell Ms. L to take computer classes while in school at her youth, this led to Ms. L’s deficiency in computers later on in
The past two decades have overwhelmed the human experience with technology, along with all its distractions. The direct relationship between the mind and the body’s ability to adjust from these distractions can be extremely difficult .Further research has shown that it has become an addiction for many. Technology has significantly improved our lives as a whole through experiences such as Global Positioning System (GPS), cell phones and social networking allowing us to communicate with different people around the world. These technologies make our daily lives easier and more efficient. However, this also discusses the effects of technology on various aspects of our everyday personal experiences both with each other and with the world around us. On the other hand technologies such as cell phones have become a problem in getting students to focus in class and distracting drivers and thus, resulting in vehicle accidents. Technology is beneficial, but can also become an inescapable distraction in our lives. It is important to view technology as having the ability to make our lives better or worse, yet also as having the ability to change our personal lives and behavioral patterns.
Richtel, M. (2010, November 20). Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction. The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?pagewanted=2
In the article, How Technology is Changing the Way Children Think and Focus, author Jim Taylor , emphasizes“…students who were allowed Internet access during class didn’t recall the lecture nor did they perform as well on a test of the material as those who weren’t “wired” during class” (par. 10). Children have become so brainwashed that they drown everything out around them and put what little attention they have, on their devices, leaving the individuals completely oblivious to their surrounding environment. From a teacher’s standpoint, it is already hard enough trying to maintain the focus of 32 wondering minds, some with ADD and learning disabilities, the last thing he or she needs is a handful of students not paying attention because they are playing on their devices. Children unable to focus on certain activities not only damagingly affects themselves, but also their fellow
Numerous people praise the Internet and its ability to educate young people. More and more schools are switching to online learning to help children academically. Studies have shown that educational games can help children’s visual intelligence skills (Subrahmanyam, Kaveri, et al. 128). Similarly, some research has found that computer use helps kids in their alphabet recognition, language, early mathematical knowledge and learning (Bremer 412). Contrastly, homework may contribute to academic and intellectual benefits, but the gains are relatively small compared to the negative effects of the Internet on mental health (Shields, Margie, and Behrman 10). Other research has shown that computers alone are not a sufficient replacement of actual teachers and classrooms. Several studies show the Internet to be a hindrance when it comes to academic achievement and cognitive development. Even computer learning software has been know to smite creativity (Bremer
A silent menace is creeping into the lives of America’s youth. It can be found on the streets. This addiction-creating snare is passed around at the movie theater when nobody seems to be watching. Paranoid teenagers sneak time in with it in school bathrooms and parking lots. Once-innocent kids are fully ensnared until the early hours of morning. Their red eyes and blank stares note a problem, but only after it is discovered, it is too late. This menace is not reefer or any other drug. It is technology, a new threat. No field advances as rapidly as technology. The newest iPhones and tablets are being introduced into many individuals’ work and personal lives. The most natural progression seems to be the integration of and focus upon technology in public schools. However, a hasty transition into a tech world may be dangerous. Technology use produces a number of negative consequences in the classroom because it enables students to become dependent, prevents effective reinforcement of topics taught in class, and places both societal and classroom minorities at an extreme disadvantage.
Almost every child between the ages of eight and twelve are getting cell phones. The average home in America has as many televisions as they do people. Only 20% of American homes do not have a computer. Technology is quickly becoming a new way of life. The amount of time people are on their devices is growing rapidly. According to The Huffington Post, people are on their devices for on average about eleven hours and fifty-two minutes a day. That is almost half a day and a lot longer than most people sleep or work. People have not realized yet how they or their families are being affected by this constant use of technology. As a result of technology increasing, children are experiencing health problems, school issues, and social problems.
Technology has allowed students, teachers, and parents to access unlimited resources instantly. The ease of access to school services and materials helps students in many ways. Redd makes a good point stating that “Many of these mobile devices are characterized as miniature classroom computers that allow students to partake in the ‘anytime, anywhere’ learning movement” (30). Students today use all types of electronic devices to do the unimaginable. The internet is a portal for students to connect to everything around the world giving them instantaneous access to resources. Imagine going throughout a day without the aid of technology, it detracts the learning process and limits accessibility. Students find it easier to access coursework, “Some said they were reluctant to use mobile phone functions such as SMS texting and information downloads for course-related activities” (Moule 61). Technology is always being implicated through day to day life situations. Student’s instantaneous access to unlimited resources...
Computers have always been useful, but not until recently have computers become useful for children who are twelve and under. Of course these children enjoy playing games and talking to there friends on the computer but due to new innovations coming out everyday children can now do a lot more then just play and socialize. Computers have brought school to the home. When children come home from school it used to mean school was over but today if you have access to the internet school is know longer over but just beginning on the internet. The internet has special educational sites that children can visit and learn from. Besides that children actually can have contact with there personal teacher from school. A new invention called the “Mobile Author can be used by human instructors either from a computer or a mobile phone to create their own Intelligent Tutoring Systems and to distribute them to their students. Students can also use any computer or mobile phone to have access to theory and tests.” (Source 2, Journal) Homework, notes, review assignments can now be given over the internet by the child’s teacher from there school. “Instructors can monitor their students; progress and communicate with their students during the course.” (Source 2, Journal) Children can learn new information on the internet and they are able to review and get extra help on things they don’t understand. If a child realizes that they do not understand something when they get home, they know longer have to wait to go in to school for extra help, but they now can communicate with there teacher online or they can go to an internet tutoring system which will give them just as much help as being in a regular classroom.