Downtown Fred Brown
Lots of times electronic devices in the classroom are fun. Like today when I got to talking with a couple kids and one guy asks if I know Freddy Brown. Hell yes. Grandson of Downtown Fred Brown, watched him grow for three years. I heard they sent him to Nathen Hale because it is a stronger basketball program.
The kid showed me a clip of a recent Nathon Hale game, saw Freddy make some moves, he is tenth grade this year, dunks the ball but not in the game yet. SnapChatted my picture to Freddy while we were talking, Old Mr. Petersen says hello. Decent photo of me, wish I had it for an updated profile.
The kid showed me a clip of a recent Nathon Hale game, saw Freddy make some moves, he is tenth grade this year, dunks the ball but not in the game yet. SnapChatted my picture to Freddy while we were talking, Old Mr. Petersen says hello. Decent photo of me, wish I had it for an updated profile.
One problem with that little conversation, it's the last class period before the end of semester final exam, freshman English. I'm the sub for the day. The teacher had prepared an assignment that I am sure she designed to lead directly into her final, almost free block of points to help anyone do well in the class.
Three sections of ninth grade English, thirty or more in each. Between phones and computers, at least a hundred fifty screens of various sizes, continuously running social media apps. Some of the laptops run GoodleClassroom where the teacher put up the assignment on a tab, along with facebook and twitter, pictures of cars and basketball shoes. And I don't even want to think about social media fueled teenage angst.
But one can't help wonder at the negative impact all this distraction must be having on the learning process. Even the kids doing the class work are constantly carrying on text conversations while they work.
Teachers and school administrators try to keep the kid's minds at school but it is like sweeping back the tide. What would anyone do? Fill in blanks on a worksheet packet, searching for answers in hard copy printed pages of Romeo and Juliette, or watch clips of basketball games Snapchatting with your buddy down at Hale?
Three sections of ninth grade English, thirty or more in each. Between phones and computers, at least a hundred fifty screens of various sizes, continuously running social media apps. Some of the laptops run GoodleClassroom where the teacher put up the assignment on a tab, along with facebook and twitter, pictures of cars and basketball shoes. And I don't even want to think about social media fueled teenage angst.
But one can't help wonder at the negative impact all this distraction must be having on the learning process. Even the kids doing the class work are constantly carrying on text conversations while they work.
Teachers and school administrators try to keep the kid's minds at school but it is like sweeping back the tide. What would anyone do? Fill in blanks on a worksheet packet, searching for answers in hard copy printed pages of Romeo and Juliette, or watch clips of basketball games Snapchatting with your buddy down at Hale?
Imagine the uproar if some shadowy government agency planted an electronic device in every child's brain at birth that provided endless entertainment, possibly restricting critical thinking skill learning? Tweak the design just a little, handheld television sets that everyone willingly carries with them at all times. And can you prove it is responsible for diminished critical thinking?
Besides, who could possibly benefit from a dumbed down population?
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