Digital Nation
As it figures, as soon as I decide to get cable, PBS has suddenly starting coming in more often. I managed to see nearly all of a Frontline episode I wanted to see called Digital nation. It was very fascinating.
PBS Digital Nation Frontline site
The premise of this commentary/documentary is to look at the effect on culture of the amount of digital communications now prevelant in our society, with particular looks at young people and students.
IT was pretty well balanced-- in fact, one of the producers/writers is the person who wrote Cyberia in the early 90s and was a big promoter of the advantages of the internet and digital technology. THis gave a really interesting view on re-evaulating the technology today compared to expectations.
They examined how elementary age kids relate to it, how college aged kids use it, how some schools use it, how businesses use it, some applications in the military and elderly, and some scientific studies including performance testing between "digital multitaskers" and focused attention.
I think many of us know the advantages of technology. Especially us "older folks". Word processors instead of typewriters. Dictionaries and encyclopedias at our fingertips for free. Instant or quick communication with friends and loved ones, and the ability to work from far away. Cell phones to get and make those important calls when out of doors or on the road, and of course, entertainment and fun too.
Those of us who remember BEFORE the internet can see these things as tools, and use them and appreciate them, but we just can't see them in the same degree as someone born into it who apparently view the constant stiumulation and use of digital technologies as a normal see to contantly connect with-- anytime, anywhere, all the time, often, and alone or with others.
It goes beyond my joking of how to use a book or going on email withdrawal on vacation. I was finding that the things that annoyed me about some of the younger people I know are not unique quirks or rudeness, but they are in fact the dominate culture of that generation. Things like texting while in deep conversation in person me is not meant to be rude, and in fact the person doing so couldn't perceive it as rude. Multitasking communications digital or otherwise is considered "oxygen" to the youth of today and not deserving of a second thought.
However, I have casually built up an impression of ":youth today" and how they relate to technology, but my experiences are relatively minor and focused. This show went a bit deeper and confirmed and went beyond my own opinions and ideas, and I have a lot to think about.
Aside from interviews with people and case studies, the show basically did not say that technology was bad nor good, only that it has had definate impacts on the society and people, with greater impact on the younger. And we saw that some get addicted, some performances suffer, but some more learning and socializing also happens, on variety of scales.
Some interesting aspects:
WoW was used as an example of the online game community, and it was put in a positive light! While yes, some people are addicted (Korea was spotlit here for several reasons) the dominate presentation of games like WoW was of the way it allowed people to socialize, share efforts, and create networks and bonds with other people as a positive influence.
Some schools are using a computer dominated curriculum, in some places to great benefit and turning around at-risk students, far beyond the simple ways that I considered using technology in my classroom. In some cases, the principles or staff can look at what each students' laptop is doing, and when the student is slacking from focus they can let the student know they have been seen offtask.
THe military is using gaming as a recruiting tool and it is controversial in the towns that large cernters are placed, also drone pilots participate in war via game-like distancing tools, but they are in war and killing people and things-- a change of warfare for thousands of years to cause harm and not be in personal danger or away from family.
One person referred to the digital technologies as similar to previous technology breakthroughs, ones that had a benefit that outweighed the cost. With writing we lost the great use of large memory (know the illiad, anyone?) yet writing is so useful that it exceeds the value, they say, of a more practiced and strong memory.
MIT students and other colleges attend lectures with laptops-- something I Considered once as I type faster than I write with less cramping. BUt these students were caught on camera more often than not eschewing the lecture materials and in stead looking at entertainment sites like facebook and youtube. Long time professors have also tracked changes in writing styles and work efforts that indicate "lack of defined focus"
A scientist released a study that showed more brain area was activated during a Google search than when reading a book. Headlines hailed this as indication that the internet is good brain development, the scientist who did the study is not so sure, saying that not only do the areas of the brain engaged matter, but that a practiced brain uses less power to be more efficient.
Addiction happens and they aren't quite sure why some folks get addicted-- not just to games, but to things like checking email constantly, updating facebook constantly, cell phone and text constantly, and in some cases retreating from personal contact of family. THis is a major problem in Korea, which the writer said stems from earlier adoption and promotion of digital technologies to help recover from an economic downturn.
Korean schools teach computer skills in school starting at 6 years old, and even have songs to teach about nettiquette just like we teach the alphabet and cleaning your hands songs.
PBS Digital Nation Frontline site
The premise of this commentary/documentary is to look at the effect on culture of the amount of digital communications now prevelant in our society, with particular looks at young people and students.
IT was pretty well balanced-- in fact, one of the producers/writers is the person who wrote Cyberia in the early 90s and was a big promoter of the advantages of the internet and digital technology. THis gave a really interesting view on re-evaulating the technology today compared to expectations.
They examined how elementary age kids relate to it, how college aged kids use it, how some schools use it, how businesses use it, some applications in the military and elderly, and some scientific studies including performance testing between "digital multitaskers" and focused attention.
I think many of us know the advantages of technology. Especially us "older folks". Word processors instead of typewriters. Dictionaries and encyclopedias at our fingertips for free. Instant or quick communication with friends and loved ones, and the ability to work from far away. Cell phones to get and make those important calls when out of doors or on the road, and of course, entertainment and fun too.
Those of us who remember BEFORE the internet can see these things as tools, and use them and appreciate them, but we just can't see them in the same degree as someone born into it who apparently view the constant stiumulation and use of digital technologies as a normal see to contantly connect with-- anytime, anywhere, all the time, often, and alone or with others.
It goes beyond my joking of how to use a book or going on email withdrawal on vacation. I was finding that the things that annoyed me about some of the younger people I know are not unique quirks or rudeness, but they are in fact the dominate culture of that generation. Things like texting while in deep conversation in person me is not meant to be rude, and in fact the person doing so couldn't perceive it as rude. Multitasking communications digital or otherwise is considered "oxygen" to the youth of today and not deserving of a second thought.
However, I have casually built up an impression of ":youth today" and how they relate to technology, but my experiences are relatively minor and focused. This show went a bit deeper and confirmed and went beyond my own opinions and ideas, and I have a lot to think about.
Aside from interviews with people and case studies, the show basically did not say that technology was bad nor good, only that it has had definate impacts on the society and people, with greater impact on the younger. And we saw that some get addicted, some performances suffer, but some more learning and socializing also happens, on variety of scales.
Some interesting aspects:
WoW was used as an example of the online game community, and it was put in a positive light! While yes, some people are addicted (Korea was spotlit here for several reasons) the dominate presentation of games like WoW was of the way it allowed people to socialize, share efforts, and create networks and bonds with other people as a positive influence.
Some schools are using a computer dominated curriculum, in some places to great benefit and turning around at-risk students, far beyond the simple ways that I considered using technology in my classroom. In some cases, the principles or staff can look at what each students' laptop is doing, and when the student is slacking from focus they can let the student know they have been seen offtask.
THe military is using gaming as a recruiting tool and it is controversial in the towns that large cernters are placed, also drone pilots participate in war via game-like distancing tools, but they are in war and killing people and things-- a change of warfare for thousands of years to cause harm and not be in personal danger or away from family.
One person referred to the digital technologies as similar to previous technology breakthroughs, ones that had a benefit that outweighed the cost. With writing we lost the great use of large memory (know the illiad, anyone?) yet writing is so useful that it exceeds the value, they say, of a more practiced and strong memory.
MIT students and other colleges attend lectures with laptops-- something I Considered once as I type faster than I write with less cramping. BUt these students were caught on camera more often than not eschewing the lecture materials and in stead looking at entertainment sites like facebook and youtube. Long time professors have also tracked changes in writing styles and work efforts that indicate "lack of defined focus"
A scientist released a study that showed more brain area was activated during a Google search than when reading a book. Headlines hailed this as indication that the internet is good brain development, the scientist who did the study is not so sure, saying that not only do the areas of the brain engaged matter, but that a practiced brain uses less power to be more efficient.
Addiction happens and they aren't quite sure why some folks get addicted-- not just to games, but to things like checking email constantly, updating facebook constantly, cell phone and text constantly, and in some cases retreating from personal contact of family. THis is a major problem in Korea, which the writer said stems from earlier adoption and promotion of digital technologies to help recover from an economic downturn.
Korean schools teach computer skills in school starting at 6 years old, and even have songs to teach about nettiquette just like we teach the alphabet and cleaning your hands songs.