Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Generation M?
The Generation Multitasking? Generation Media?
Time Magazine posted an article (sounds like a message board or a blog) about a new generation of youth insistant on text messaging/IMing/computer using.
Being a computer junkie, I'm well ahead of the curve. I was doing this stuff while occupying the phone line from 3pm-6pm + 9pm-?pm. Over 8 hours a day on average says Time magazine is spent doing such activities. Please -- try doing that over dialup. BOOYAH.
However, I do realize the adverse effects of doing homework while IMing or downloading or browsing the web.
Imagine if my even shorter attention span was consumed with it at a younger age?
Either two possibilities:
1. The youth will develop the need to multitask and do multiple things equally well at the same time and will be able to function and focus at a more effecient rate or
2. The youth will be overly distracted by the multitude of lights, sounds, and text that will distract them from efficient work.
Personally, I believe that these things are entertainment, and really shouldn't be mixed with work -- at least to the degree they're explaining. However, this depends on the person. It's hard to judge when they're making excuses or if they're really like that.
Kate can watch TV and do homework very well. I listen to music or watch videos, but at times my mind wanders. A environment of stone silence may makes my mind wander too -- I'm ADD like that.
Depending on the maturity of children -- they may like to be downloading/chatting/browsing/myspacing while doing their homework, and make an excuse by saying that they're doing both at the same time equally well. IMO, that is not acceptable. Homework needs to be the primary; the others need to definitely take a back seat. Chatting/myspacing/browsing require reactive attention, and that takes attention away from the work.
TV is a gray area -- it may eventually pull you in. I can watch old episodes of friends/scrubs and do hw without a problem. New eps may pull me in.
Music is also gray, but definitely better. I have learned the the more senses that are actively connected to the study material, the easier it is to learn. If you read out loud at times, it helps focus since you're listening to the material; something you can't do while listening to mp3s. However, I doubt most people don't do this.
Time Magazine posted an article (sounds like a message board or a blog) about a new generation of youth insistant on text messaging/IMing/computer using.
Being a computer junkie, I'm well ahead of the curve. I was doing this stuff while occupying the phone line from 3pm-6pm + 9pm-?pm. Over 8 hours a day on average says Time magazine is spent doing such activities. Please -- try doing that over dialup. BOOYAH.
However, I do realize the adverse effects of doing homework while IMing or downloading or browsing the web.
Imagine if my even shorter attention span was consumed with it at a younger age?
Either two possibilities:
1. The youth will develop the need to multitask and do multiple things equally well at the same time and will be able to function and focus at a more effecient rate or
2. The youth will be overly distracted by the multitude of lights, sounds, and text that will distract them from efficient work.
Personally, I believe that these things are entertainment, and really shouldn't be mixed with work -- at least to the degree they're explaining. However, this depends on the person. It's hard to judge when they're making excuses or if they're really like that.
Kate can watch TV and do homework very well. I listen to music or watch videos, but at times my mind wanders. A environment of stone silence may makes my mind wander too -- I'm ADD like that.
Depending on the maturity of children -- they may like to be downloading/chatting/browsing/myspacing while doing their homework, and make an excuse by saying that they're doing both at the same time equally well. IMO, that is not acceptable. Homework needs to be the primary; the others need to definitely take a back seat. Chatting/myspacing/browsing require reactive attention, and that takes attention away from the work.
TV is a gray area -- it may eventually pull you in. I can watch old episodes of friends/scrubs and do hw without a problem. New eps may pull me in.
Music is also gray, but definitely better. I have learned the the more senses that are actively connected to the study material, the easier it is to learn. If you read out loud at times, it helps focus since you're listening to the material; something you can't do while listening to mp3s. However, I doubt most people don't do this.
Comments:
Post a Comment
