Too Dumb for Complex Texts? More Thoughts
In regards to complex thinking skills vs. multitasking and constant interaction, I believe they are both caught and
taught. We learn many things from watching
people close to us, picking up habits and mannerisms among other things. Such
as reading books at home as we discussed in group. Kids are seemingly more interested
in books when exposed to them naturally. However, we still need to teach and
guide them in thought-provoking questions that might get some kids thinking
critically who may not have otherwise. On the other hand, there are indeed
children who are natural born thinkers and analyzers and tend to question and
dig deep on their own. Then you have massive technology that I definitely
believe plays a role in loss of critical thinking, but not all. I agree with
Bauerlein in the apparent truth about technology and its’ affects on people and
how strongly it has been linked, especially the fast paced television (like all
other technology), to attention difficulties in children (ADD). I have no doubt
that this affects adults as well. So then it is not only caught by watching
others interact with technology, it is taught while we are forced into it at
schools and convinced by others around us to learn it.
Hi Katherine, I completely agree with you. From my experience in the classroom kids are very resistant to reading anything that doesn't provide instant gratification with minimal effort. I do think that technology can support these efforts from teachers though, especially in the case of ADD students. I like that you brought up ADD students because the make up of kid who are ADD is about 1/3 of my overall class!
ReplyDelete