Comments on: Need we be alarmed? http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html Musings on the use and impact of technology in education, and of the future of education in general. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:43:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Anne Marie Cunningham http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-2018 Anne Marie Cunningham Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:04:50 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-2018 Dear All, I wish I could share the whole report with you. Then you would see that there is little point in talking about it. It was bad science and it's reporting was bad journalism. Unfortunately the BBC don't seem to see it that way. I'm disappointed. Anne Marie Dear All,
I wish I could share the whole report with you. Then you would see that there is little point in talking about it. It was bad science and it’s reporting was bad journalism. Unfortunately the BBC don’t seem to see it that way. I’m disappointed.
Anne Marie

]]> By: john west http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-2007 john west Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:29:57 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-2007 .........its like saying kids are addicted to learning. ………its like saying kids are addicted to learning.

]]> By: Jeanette McLeod http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-2001 Jeanette McLeod Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:40:47 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-2001 Their report concluded that modern gadgets worsened pupils' spelling and concentration, encouraged plagiarism and disrupted lessons. Yet nothing was reported about the positive impact of living in a highly connected, information rich world. It is easy for us to take this research and harp back to a time gone by, but is it really a bad thing that children today can readily access vast amounts of information? Shouldn’t education be about how to use this information and the technological tools available to enhance their learning? I agree with Liz - we do have to look at what motivates the learner, provide meaningful content in “their world” and allow them to use the technology available. Their report concluded that modern gadgets worsened pupils’ spelling and concentration, encouraged plagiarism and disrupted lessons. Yet nothing was reported about the positive impact of living in a highly connected, information rich world. It is easy for us to take this research and harp back to a time gone by, but is it really a bad thing that children today can readily access vast amounts of information? Shouldn’t education be about how to use this information and the technological tools available to enhance their learning? I agree with Liz – we do have to look at what motivates the learner, provide meaningful content in “their world” and allow them to use the technology available.

]]> By: Mary Hall http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-1997 Mary Hall Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:58:54 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-1997 63% felt addicted to the internet and 53% to their mobile phones: - the most interesting thing about this is that it's that way around. I'd have expected phones to come out on top - but of course 'feeling addicted' is different from frequency of use. They can’t get motivated to read for a long period of time: - Is that a technology issue? Maybe it has as much to do with the way we have taught basic reading skills over the past decade or so (whole language, decoding skills, increasing numbers of dyslexic students (i.e. students whose learning needs havent been met) etc)? On plagiarism: - some interesting issues to be explored on the relationship between plagiarism and co-construction. [young people] have invented a new language... So they will have difficulty communicating with others and making themselves understood. - No, they don't have any problem at all. It's us old fuddy-duddies that have the problem. Texters will inherit the earth! 63% felt addicted to the internet and 53% to their mobile phones:
- the most interesting thing about this is that it’s that way around. I’d have expected phones to come out on top – but of course ‘feeling addicted’ is different from frequency of use.
They can’t get motivated to read for a long period of time:
- Is that a technology issue? Maybe it has as much to do with the way we have taught basic reading skills over the past decade or so (whole language, decoding skills, increasing numbers of dyslexic students (i.e. students whose learning needs havent been met) etc)?
On plagiarism:
- some interesting issues to be explored on the relationship between plagiarism and co-construction.
[young people] have invented a new language… So they will have difficulty communicating with others and making themselves understood.
- No, they don’t have any problem at all. It’s us old fuddy-duddies that have the problem. Texters will inherit the earth!

]]> By: Sarah Stewart http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-1996 Sarah Stewart Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:17:40 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-1996 Here is a very interesting critique of this research: http://wishfulthinkinginmedicaleducation.blogspot.com/2009/09/tech-addiction-harms-learning-really.html and follow-up: http://wishfulthinkinginmedicaleducation.blogspot.com/2009/09/email-to-bbc-news-education-re-tech.html Here is a very interesting critique of this research:

http://wishfulthinkinginmedicaleducation.blogspot.com/2009/09/tech-addiction-harms-learning-really.html

and follow-up:

http://wishfulthinkinginmedicaleducation.blogspot.com/2009/09/email-to-bbc-news-education-re-tech.html

]]> By: Martin Cocker http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-1992 Martin Cocker Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:39:16 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-1992 Kids are "addicted to technology", 700,000 preditors on the net at any given time, 671% increase in malicious sites, lives ruined by cyberbullying. Just another day of technology stories on my news feed. Some research from Europe showed the internet was negatively reported on 7 times for every positive report. Is that a fair representation of the impact of the internet? Not at all. Its just a reflection of how the media works. However, that's what people see. Its no wonder schools struggle to convince their communities of the need to invest in more technology when the community sees technology through the eyes of the media. As for this "research". Self describing addiction? Its not credible. For the young its cool to be "addicted" to your phone or computer. Its not addiction as its being reported. Kids are “addicted to technology”, 700,000 preditors on the net at any given time, 671% increase in malicious sites, lives ruined by cyberbullying. Just another day of technology stories on my news feed. Some research from Europe showed the internet was negatively reported on 7 times for every positive report. Is that a fair representation of the impact of the internet? Not at all. Its just a reflection of how the media works. However, that’s what people see. Its no wonder schools struggle to convince their communities of the need to invest in more technology when the community sees technology through the eyes of the media.
As for this “research”. Self describing addiction? Its not credible. For the young its cool to be “addicted” to your phone or computer. Its not addiction as its being reported.

]]> By: sarah stewart http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-1989 sarah stewart Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:57:58 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-1989 To my mind the issues isn't what technology we use or don't use in teaching, but rather how we engage students & motivate them. Having just watched one of my children waste the last 3 years at school because no teachers have looked at him as a person & how he learns, I feel it's time we got back to basics. To my mind the issues isn’t what technology we use or don’t use in teaching, but rather how we engage students & motivate them. Having just watched one of my children waste the last 3 years at school because no teachers have looked at him as a person & how he learns, I feel it’s time we got back to basics.

]]> By: Tek4L » Blog Archive » Mobile phones in classrooms http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-1988 Tek4L » Blog Archive » Mobile phones in classrooms Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:04:50 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-1988 [...] picking up on a comment of Derek’s Just over one in five (20.2%) said they left the phone on in lessons – which is usually forbidden [...] [...] picking up on a comment of Derek’s Just over one in five (20.2%) said they left the phone on in lessons – which is usually forbidden [...]

]]> By: Liz Ives http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-1986 Liz Ives Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:48:32 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-1986 I agree with Dave, "unless we can get students to learn with technology I think we will struggle to kayak past them." We have to get into their world! One of my three teenagers is practically wired in technology. Ipod in her ears, cell phone in each hand, and multi tasking on her laptop, social networking,as well as researching, while doing her homework. I might add, the t.v is also sometimes on! She loathes completing her wider reading responses, but recently sat down to read the last Harry Potter book in three days! (despite the fact that this book was not one on the school list of books to read) I don't think technology has prevented her from learning to read. If anything, she has been reading to learn. She is teaching me! We have to find what makes the learner tick, provide meaningful content from "their world" and allow them to use all technology available to them to do so. Too often I hear from her that school is boring and feel sad that we are turning our kids off learning! There is a lot of flashy IT gear out there,but if we just take a moment to watch the kids using their choice of technology and ask ourselves how we might be able to use it to improve teaching and learning ...we will have self motivated learners! I agree with Dave, “unless we can get students to learn with technology I think we will struggle to kayak past them.” We have to get into their world! One of my three teenagers is practically wired in technology. Ipod in her ears, cell phone in each hand, and multi tasking on her laptop, social networking,as well as researching, while doing her homework. I might add, the t.v is also sometimes on! She loathes completing her wider reading responses, but recently sat down to read the last Harry Potter book in three days! (despite the fact that this book was not one on the school list of books to read) I don’t think technology has prevented her from learning to read. If anything, she has been reading to learn. She is teaching me! We have to find what makes the learner tick, provide meaningful content from “their world” and allow them to use all technology available to them to do so. Too often I hear from her that school is boring and feel sad that we are turning our kids off learning! There is a lot of flashy IT gear out there,but if we just take a moment to watch the kids using their choice of technology and ask ourselves how we might be able to use it to improve teaching and learning …we will have self motivated learners!

]]> By: Dave Winter http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/09/need-we-be-alarmed.html/comment-page-1#comment-1984 Dave Winter Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:16:05 +0000 http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/?p=1482#comment-1984 While having not read the report you have made some appropriate observations here Derek. Is the question here: Are students learning needs so different from our own that they need to be protected from technology so that they learn and develop to their potential? My gut feeling is no but we have some work to do to ensure this is not the case. We do know they are supposed to be governed more by their amygdala, a brain structure, linked with a person's mental and emotional state. Should we be thinking more about what we a trying to get them to learn at this time? A statement like Technology addiction is having a disruptive effect on teenagers learning is a bit like saying "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?". This study appears to be a self-fulfilling prophesy. We are still developing as digital practitioners and as such we are still learning to make technology addiction beneficial to student learning. Is technology addiction as part of a good learning programme a bad thing? If we met someone from the 1900's we would like see them as mentally disabled. When we look back at ourselves in 30 years time will we appear this way also. I believe I am becoming more literate, articulate and capable in many spheres through my use of technology. I have to work hard to make sure I have real actions and a physical life not just a digital one. For students I see this as a central personal learning task. There are huge boulders in the river downstream for sure: but unless we can get students to learn with technology I think we will struggle to kayak past them. While having not read the report you have made some appropriate observations here Derek. Is the question here: Are students learning needs so different from our own that they need to be protected from technology so that they learn and develop to their potential? My gut feeling is no but we have some work to do to ensure this is not the case. We do know they are supposed to be governed more by their amygdala, a brain structure, linked with a person’s mental and emotional state. Should we be thinking more about what we a trying to get them to learn at this time? A statement like Technology addiction is having a disruptive effect on teenagers learning is a bit like saying “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”. This study appears to be a self-fulfilling prophesy. We are still developing as digital practitioners and as such we are still learning to make technology addiction beneficial to student learning. Is technology addiction as part of a good learning programme a bad thing? If we met someone from the 1900’s we would like see them as mentally disabled. When we look back at ourselves in 30 years time will we appear this way also. I believe I am becoming more literate, articulate and capable in many spheres through my use of technology. I have to work hard to make sure I have real actions and a physical life not just a digital one. For students I see this as a central personal learning task. There are huge boulders in the river downstream for sure: but unless we can get students to learn with technology I think we will struggle to kayak past them.

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