Is media multitasking melting our brains?
By Tyler on May 22nd, 2013
Kids today are master multitaskers. You’ve probably heard about this phenomenon or observed it in your students or the children in your life (or with yourself!). The Kaiser Family Foundation uses the term “media multitasking” to describe children and teens spending increasing amounts of time interacting with multiple media simultaneously.
But is all this multitasking helping them become more efficient, productive learners? Research seems to indicate that the answer is “no.”
A widely-cited new study from California State University that looked at students’ ability to stay focused on work (homework, or a school project, or reading, etc.) showed that students studied less than six minutes before getting distracted by technology, and only spent 65 percent of the first 15 minutes focusing on the important task at hand.
And when students multitask while doing their homework, “their learning is far spottier and shallower than if the work had their full attention,” writes Annie Murphy Paul. “So detrimental is this practice that some researchers are proposing that a new prerequisite for academic and even professional success—the new marshmallow test of self-discipline—is the ability to resist a blinking inbox or a buzzing phone.”
In a great post on his must-read blog, cognitive scientist Dan Willingham says the ability to sustain attention may be the 21st Century skill “in shortest supply.”
He writes: “If we are concerned that students today are too quick to allow their attention to be yanked to the brightest object (or to willfully redirect it once their very low threshold of boredom is surpassed), we need to consider ways that we can bring home to them the potential reward of sustained attention.”
Clearly, the ability to focus and see complicated tasks through to the end is a skill that pays off in the workplace and in life. So how do we help students (and in many cases help ourselves!) learn how to sustain attention and see the value of sticking with tasks for a long period of time? Dan Willingham has some ideas. But please share yours as well!
Or is this whole thing just overblown? Maybe it’s just our brains reacting and adjusting to new stimuli…
(Flickr photo by sand_sand_sky)
Summer Challenge update: 22 million minutes and counting
By Megan on May 21st, 2013
The 2013 Scholastic Summer Challenge began a little over two weeks ago, and kids have already read over 22 million minutes. (You can pick your jaw up off the floor now.) Not only do we have more students and classrooms participating this year thanmore… full post
What role do graduations play in our growth?
By Guest Blogger on May 20th, 2013
It’s graduation season! (Even our own Megan is in on it — she graduates today with her Master’s degree in English and American Literature! Go, Megan!) Julia Graeper from our Classroom and Community Group is here with some thoughts about what thesemore… full post
Using Storia to navigate historical fiction with students
By Guest Blogger on May 16th, 2013
Fourth-grade teacher Laura Murray is here again with some great Storia ideas! Today, she’s talking about historical fiction. And who doesn’t love some good historical fiction? Thanks, Laura! History was never my favorite nor my best subjectmore… full post
Outstanding Educators Help Struggling Students Become Confident Lifelong Readers
By Alex on May 16th, 2013
There are certain times of year I always look forward to, such as the start of summer, my birthday, and of course selecting the READ 180 and System 44 Outstanding Educators! I was again inspired by the nominations we received this year; we have hadmore… full post
#MathPics Winners: A box of lollipops,area and perimeter and a parabola
By Alex on May 14th, 2013
This is a pic of a fence that’s also a catenary curve! In celebration of the much anticipated launch of MATH 180, we encouraged you to join our #MathPics photo contest for some math-focused fun and a chance to win some prizes! We had so muchmore… full post
#MathPics winners for week 3 AND one more chance to win!
By Alex on May 9th, 2013
A symmetrical vegetable! In celebration of the much anticipated launch of MATH 180, we encouraged you to join our #MathPics photo contest for some math-focused fun and a chance to win some prizes! Here are this week’s winners: 1.) One ofmore… full post
An inside look at Scholastic Reads
By Lia on May 8th, 2013
A 2nd grader draws a response to David Shannon’s book Duck on a Bike. She called it “Two Ducks Falling in Love”. On the first Wednesday of every month, a handful of Scholastic employees — myself included — have the opportunity to visit a Newmore… full post
Parents chat about summer reading success
By Megan on May 8th, 2013
On Monday night, we kicked off the Summer Challenge with a Facebook chat on the Scholastic Parents Facebook page. In short, it was a hit. Thousands of parents tuned in to hear parent bloggers Amy Mascott and Allison McDonald sharemore… full post
Read Every Day (Even in Summertime), Lead a Better Life
By Suzanne on May 7th, 2013
“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them,” says Lemony Snicket, the harassed—and hilarious—narrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Horseradish. We hope that your students will follow Snicket’s advice as they headmore… full post
