Interesting…. Doug Johnson’s post Tech=work, Print = slacking? I wonder what folks think when they see someone with an iPad? Is it looked at as a book, or a toy?
Perhaps the attitude Doug talks about is because computers in the olden days (before the advent of social media and ebooks) were used almost exclusively for work. Now – not so much. Also – perhaps we value multi-tasking with multiple screens more than we value concentration on one issue or problem. Thinking is not active enough to suit us anymore.
Could this attitude be standing in the way of the common core standards which require close reading, analysis and critical and creative thinking? These standards require deep thinking – but does our society actually value deep thinking?
One of the biggest thing librarians have trouble with is getting teachers to allot enough time for students to do serious research. And once they do bring their classes in – the sight of students busily tapping away at computers appears to satisfy the adults that work is being done. But…how about building in thinking time? How about actually READING the sources? What about questioning what they read? What about spending time examining different opinions on the issues being researched? Quantity seems to be winning out on quality. Many teachers and admins are in a panic over the common core. Perhaps they should take a deep breath, get away from the computers, and just let themselves relax and think a little.
Hi Jacquie,
The “deep thinking” requirement will be a difficult one. The very nature of “snippet” reading (see Carr’s The Shallows) seems to work against it.
Maybe it is the English teacher in me, but I do my best thinking (which is still pretty shallow) when I write. Something about seeing one’s ideas either on the screen or on paper makes me think several times about the accuracy and clarity of what I am “thinking.”
Thanks for the mention and the conversation,
Doug
PS. How’s the Mac transformation?
Doug,
I agree with you. Writing definitely helps me think. From my experience though – teachers tend to act as if the reading-thinking-writing cycle will just happen by magic. I think they need to put way more emphasis on it. Too many kids think that research means jumping from one website to another and copy/pasting snippets of information that looks good. I would like to see them call a halt to the research at some time in the process and provide reading time, followed by a reading/writing time. Give the kids practice at doing their own thinking and not depending so heavily on Google et al to do their thinking for them.