I sort of agree that we are the dumbest generation. In some regards, I don't think so. I mean, a lot of kids I know, especially in this class are very smart guys and gals, and I'm honored to have discussions such as these with other intelligent people. While it seems like our class may not be the majority of the US, I think it is a good representation of a good portion of todays youth. I think in todays' society everyone wants to succeed. They use anything they can to succeed, including all the technology we have at our disposal compared to everyone else.
Technology has definitely done some negative things to our generation though. From the advent of the television, to cell-phones, to the crazy new properties of the internet, we rely on our technology more and more. For instance, I have a Kindle with 3G, so I can essentially go on the internet from anywhere, at any time. This is useful because I can mapquest (mapquest.com is a site for directions) to anywhere I need to go, and since I just got back from Harrisburg by the light of my Kindle and mapquest, it definitely is relevant to me! If someone would have handed me a map when I was in Harrisburg and told me "Find your way home!" I would have shook my head and called AAA.
So, in those ways, I can definitely see what everyone is talking about. It's not easy for some adults to adjust, and I have a lot of respect for people that don't need to look up answers to things I ask them on their smartphones, which is what the world is coming too I think. Just like math scores dropped all around the US when the calculator was introduced, I believe IQ scores will begin dropping as smartphones become more and more popular.
Calculator study : http://scimath.unl.edu/MIM/files/research/SheetsC.pdf
You raise a really good point comparing smart phones to calculators. I had never looked at it that way. The technology available almost puts those in grades K-12 at a disadvantage. They'll be taught how to use technology, not how to learn and retain information.
ReplyDeleteI thought your example with mapquest was really good. My parents have a GPS, but when we go on a long trip my dad always takes a map. Maps don't need to "recalculate". However, I'm on the same page as you I'd have a tough time trying to follow a map.
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology is to our advantage and I would not want to have to use a map ever again because I would probably just get more lost.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about adults having a hard time to adjust. I think Bauerlein is having a hard time adjusting to what we have available that he didn't have. He calls us dumb and lazy because it'll take a couple minutes to look up something online, when all we're doing is taking advantage of what we have.
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