Great extended analogy here--I enjoyed (and agree with) your insights. It's interesting that there has been so much research on delayed gratification in children, yet teachers often fall into the same trap of pursuing the short-term at the expense of the long-term.
As always, an excellent read Andrew! You are right on the money. As I sit here, finishing up another School year, I recognize all of the things that you listed in your article and have been noticing them for 10 years, which is why I wrote a curriculum on technology addiction 10 years ago for my psychology classes. I will share this with all of the staff and our admin, and I’m hopeful that people will read it, and seriously consider the ramifications of our decisions to opt for convenience.
I’m hopeful that the tide is slowly turning, but I’m even more motivated to help educators see the dynamics at play so we can prevent similar crises from taking hold in the future.
I loved this article and agree with pretty much everything about it, but my favorite part was the reference to the "normalization of deviance." Not so long ago I was watching a playthrough of a story-heavy video game that was about exactly this problem (basically, a freighter spaceship whose hiring standards had become so low it was staffed largely by incompetents and an actual career criminal, with disastrous results). Now I know exactly what to call this phenomenon!
1:1 is on the way out in our school. The teachers were virtually unanimous in their sigh of relieve when we said that no longer will the first homeroom be for the distribution of Chromebooks for the day. Many had already put a lid on them in their class this year and others interjected with a ‘we can do that?’ … yes … yes, you can. Your article helps to forward this cause with the crafty analogy to the buy now, pay later world. I like it and will use it as I seek to help decouple education from the screen.
This is a great exposé of what is going on. Thank you. And still the schools I am involved with push for screen-based everything and 'individual learning', avoiding so much of the communal experience which you mention...
Great extended analogy here--I enjoyed (and agree with) your insights. It's interesting that there has been so much research on delayed gratification in children, yet teachers often fall into the same trap of pursuing the short-term at the expense of the long-term.
As always, an excellent read Andrew! You are right on the money. As I sit here, finishing up another School year, I recognize all of the things that you listed in your article and have been noticing them for 10 years, which is why I wrote a curriculum on technology addiction 10 years ago for my psychology classes. I will share this with all of the staff and our admin, and I’m hopeful that people will read it, and seriously consider the ramifications of our decisions to opt for convenience.
Much appreciated Trish!
I’m hopeful that the tide is slowly turning, but I’m even more motivated to help educators see the dynamics at play so we can prevent similar crises from taking hold in the future.
I loved this article and agree with pretty much everything about it, but my favorite part was the reference to the "normalization of deviance." Not so long ago I was watching a playthrough of a story-heavy video game that was about exactly this problem (basically, a freighter spaceship whose hiring standards had become so low it was staffed largely by incompetents and an actual career criminal, with disastrous results). Now I know exactly what to call this phenomenon!
It's such a rich, explanatory concept, isn't it? I'm glad you enjoyed the piece, Alice.
1:1 is on the way out in our school. The teachers were virtually unanimous in their sigh of relieve when we said that no longer will the first homeroom be for the distribution of Chromebooks for the day. Many had already put a lid on them in their class this year and others interjected with a ‘we can do that?’ … yes … yes, you can. Your article helps to forward this cause with the crafty analogy to the buy now, pay later world. I like it and will use it as I seek to help decouple education from the screen.
Sounds like great news on your end, Tom! I’ll reach out soon to learn more about the progress you’ve made at your school.
This is a great exposé of what is going on. Thank you. And still the schools I am involved with push for screen-based everything and 'individual learning', avoiding so much of the communal experience which you mention...
I know how frustrating it can be, but I'm also beginning to see the fruits of our advocacy. Keep on keeping on, Lucy. It's making a difference!
Thank you, Andrew – I will certainly keep on keeping on! Too much is at stake, and together we can make a difference!
Such a perfect analogy
Thanks Jenna! First like a glove, doesn’t it?