Is technology shortening this generation’s attention spans?

Photo property of The New York Times

An article published in the New York Times examined a widespread belief that digital technology is negatively affecting students’ attention spans. Although new technology hasn’t been around long enough for studies to substantially demonstrate this claim, according to the article, many teachers think it affects students’ abilities to “write and communicate face to face, and almost half said it hurt critical thinking and their ability to do homework.”

Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Hospital, said teachers’ perceptions are skewed and that they may have to “keep up with or simulate” these new attention spans.

Despite the fact current technology is relatively new, it does appear to affect the length of users’ attention spans. It isn’t uncommon to witness students on their smart phones and laptops while in class, rather than paying attention to what the teacher is saying. On the other hand, because students are frequently using tech gadgets, Christakis may be right in claiming that teachers should “keep up” with this. Some teachers use Facebook groups to communicate to students, and many schools provide laptops, and even iPads to students for academic purposes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/education/technology-is-changing-how-students-learn-teachers-say.html