In classrooms and homes all across the nation, teachers and parents are sometimes left wondering what happened to their children’s attention spans. We often hear older generations commenting disparagingly about the way younger people always seem to be hard to entertain. Some just call this phenomenon being “spoiled,” but is it just the children that are losing their patience?
The Internet
One of the chief factors in the change of attention span and reading habits that we are seeing is being attributed to the internet. Specifically, the internet is being targeted because it encourages “skim reading” instead of the more old fashioned “in-depth” kind of study that our civilization is known for. According to this article, writer Nicholas Carr believes that Google, or rather the way we use Google, has altered our thinking habits. The author remarks that most of today’s internet usage habits promote disorganized and “scattered” thinking.
Though some may be skeptical of this, it is a very valid point. With every single keyword, Google brings up a massive amount of information. Our minds have learned to process this information and prioritize it by discounting what seems to be less important. This is where the skim reading comes in. For previous generations to face this kind of an information overload, they would have either had to have been in a library or listening to a lecturer on a university campus. However, now all we have to do is sit down at a computer and enter a term into a search box. This access to so much knowledge is very useful, but may become a detriment if not used properly.
Visual vs. Text
Another interesting aspect of our shrinking attention spans is the current trend toward visual “reading” instead of using the traditional text. According to this article, the BBC has said that the current nature of internet browsing has reduced our attention span capacity to about 9 seconds, roughly that of a goldfish. The fact that something as seemingly harmless as internet browsing could have such a big effect on the mind is somewhat surprising. However, the link has been researched and is well documented.
This article explains that this generation that has grown up with YouTube, Twitter, and other social networking tools has become used to being constantly connected. However, as the aforementioned article points out, the shortened attention span is not just a result of digital advances. The article states that the publisher of USA Today has trouble getting readers to comprehend anything that doesn’t include plenty of visual stimulus, where in years past, information in text form was a selling point and the main source of information for the reader.
The Mind
According to the article by Josh Catone, there is also a physiological explanation for the shortened attention spans that we are seeing. Researchers have found that there is an area of the brain stem that is specifically meant to sort out which information is relevant and what the brain labels “junk mail,” so to speak. If the brain is constantly bombarded with new stimuli (which is often with the current setup of the internet), it will compensate by skimming through information much more than it did with printed material such as a book.
The Implications
Many would agree that the ease of access to vast amounts of information the internet provides is a big step forward. The fault lies not with the internet, but in the way that the internet is being used much of the time. To balance out internet usage, it is important to read a book, take a walk, or do something else that allows the mind a rest from constant stimuli.
I predict disconnecting will become more fashionable. No Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, Crackberries and iPhones.
I think ebookreaders (offline ones) could prove to be successfull in helping us channeling our focus. What might also help is Firefox plugins like Leechblock (http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html) that people can use in preventing themselves from wasting time.
In classrooms and homes all across the nation, teachers and parents are sometimes left wondering what happened to their children’s attention spans.
I got an answer, because the crap you teach is boring and most likely I will not need it. Also, I am not learning this stuff just memorizing, so what is the benefit?
School is a one size fits all system based on how well you can memorize text and regurgitate it on paper during test time.
@Niels – I don’t think we will see many people doing a complete disconnect, but I know that I’ve started intentionally taking time away from the computer with a book (paper or electronic).
@tom – In defense of teachers, much of what they teach is required and they don’t have any option in changing it. Unfortunately this tends to kill much of the creative experiences that good teachers can give their pupils.
Thank you so much for a very informative and thought-provoking article.
As a teacher, I have found that anything which does not engage instantly becomes boring. Now I don’t mean that the subject matter has to be immediately relevant, but this; many teachers assume that the quickest and most efficient way to instruct is to directly tell students what they want them to know, what is also called “chalk and talk”.
A far more efficient and effective method is to “ask and fill” so you put a question to the students, they attempt to answer it, then you fill in the bits they don’t know. It sounds like it should be harder, but in fact I find it far easier as I only do half or even a quarter of the work, while the student does the rest!
Students also become more interested in the subject matter as they find that what they have to contribute alters the content I deliver to them. I suppose interactivity is a valid key to maintaining attention span and learning.
In-depth thinking is an unquestionably a blessing, but it often leads to analysis paralysis. When our rational “small mind” is too involved it gets in the way of intuition.
Skim reading actually promotes an essential state of being which is between the conscious thoughts – a detached, meditative, intuitive, and ready state of mind. In martial arts it’s called Zanshin, “mind like water,” a survival mechanism that allows you make life-and-death decisions and act without the involvement of conscious thought, which is too slow.
Skim reading may be not such a bad thing after all.
@Toby – You might enjoy this article about using the Socratic Method to teach kids about binary.
@Dmitri – It depends on what you want to accomplish. If you just need to cover a rudimentary knowledge of a large amount of information quickly, skimming is very useful. The problem comes when you never “go deep” in anything.
Regarding the idea of letting things happen in your subconscious–usually the only way to get to the state you are describing is by in depth study and practice of the subject.
Just read your link and wow; thank you, thank you, thank you. Who says the internet can’t expand your mind?
Can’t wait to try out the same dialogue with some colleagues!
Is anyone enjoying the irony of reading about this online?
I’m sorry what were you saying? I was distracted with Wikipedia. :)