In Slate: The Rules of Distraction
But when Cornell University researchers outfitted classrooms with wireless Internet and monitored students’ browsing habits, they concluded, “Longer browsing sessions during class tend to lead to lower grades, but there’s a hint that a greater number of browsing sessions during class may actually lead to higher grades.” It seems a bit of a stretch to impute a causal relationship, but it’s certainly possible that the kind of brain that can handle multiple channels of information is also the kind of brain that earns A’s.
I’ve long since given up even worrying about students surfing or checking their mail during the class (unless they are distracting other students). I would definitely welcome more research in this area!
As with any technology, It’s not just the tool, it’s what you do with it. Results vary widely depending on the design of the learning experience. I’ve seen some superb browser-based learning, and some that seemed less-than-useful.
I’m not talking about browser based learning—I’m talking about (as is the article) students surfing away on their laptops or notebooks while attending a face-to-face class. Or for that matter a conference session.
But, hold on…if most of the information on the Net is Bologna according to a so called “law” then how would they be able to aquire higher grades. Maybe it doesn’t have to do with the accuracy of information, but the amount of information regardless of accuracy that stimulates the particular chemical circuits in the brain…still there is a problem, a bunch of smart people that have incorrect data…there much more to question regarding this that a simple comment field won’t allow me to make according to custom.
I don’t think this really has anything to do with the information that they are surfing for or its value because I suspect most of the surfers are doing things wholly unrelated to class.
There are certainly other possibilities, most salient: not restricting students makes them happier and more apt to come to class, so they learn more by accident. Similarly, if they attended class the same amount, the surfing itself could be a distraction causing a decrease in that population.
I’m not even getting into possible cognitive theories of engagement, multi-tasking, and attention…
Lots of options; which is why it merits more study.
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