Keith Reed
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If you’re a part of Generation Z (born 1995-2012), you may know all too well about the importance of technological devices. I know that I have spent many hours looking at screens, and my vision has suffered from it. My attention span has wilted similarly to my vision because of these screens. Portable devices have become a double-edged sword for our generation and the generations coming after us.
An article posted by Time in May carried the headline “You now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish.” This is a startling title, and it seems to fit the way that culture moves from one topic to the other so quickly.
The article examines a study done by Microsoft, which states that people generally lose concentration in an average of eight seconds. Microsoft has been doing this study since 2000, and at that time, the duration of concentration was around 12 seconds. The one upside of this study is the ability to multitask has significantly improved in this age. The article states that a weaker attention span is a result of the brain becoming accustomed to the evolving world of mobile Internet. This is the upside of being born in the digital age.
Since technology is one of the biggest influencers on this generation, something should be done about the way that the students are learning. An article in the New York Times about the effects of technology on how students learn points to the fact that much work is lacking in depth and analysis in students’ work. Teachers are having problems with whether they should change their lesson plans to accommodate the majority who possess shorter attention spans.
I personally think that teachers should not change their ways for the students. For ages, students have not enjoyed going to school and with the rise of technology, it has become easier to blame for students lack of attention. I remember times in school when I would look out the window or draw on a piece of paper. Now, I simply look down at the glowing screen and look at the latest news. If teachers were to change the way that they teach based on how students learn, then there would still be things deterring them from learning.
Our devices can be fun, but they are surely not a prerequisite for it. We have grown up with technology, and it is becoming more important in the way that we live our lives. Many of us use our cell phones at inopportune times, especially during class, and I am guilty of that. Our attention spans may have decreased, but this only means that we have to work harder in classes to maintain focus. It is easy to blame a simple device, but I think that we have to look at ourselves as the reason. We have become too dependent on these flimsy pieces of metal. We need to take time out of our busy days to enjoy the world without wires.