It was fascinating to watch the video this week, "Digital Natives" by Tom McHale this week. It probed an important question concerning this generation of learners.
While working in the schools the last 10 years or so, the decline in the general ability of students to sustain attention and their resulting decline in learning, has frequently been a topic of conversion. Therefore the question that this video probes is an important one. Is this lack of focus the result of this generation's exposure to the simultaneous use of a multitude of new technology, or is it a result of other factors that need to be addressed?
The video looks at both sides of the question, with interviews and research to back up both sides. We may not know the answer for sure for quite some time. In the meantime, as educators, we see that the problem exists and so we need to address it immediately. We can assume both are true, and tailor our lessons accordingly. We can strive to include the technology that is a part of our students life outside the classroom, especially with the purpose of helping them become independent learners. Also, we can put more emphasis on teaching them behaviors that develop focus, where needed, such as seeing a task to its end, or developing deep and full understanding of a concept.
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