Student Electronic Distraction Discussion Group NEIT Conference 11/12/08-11/14/08

Page 2 of 32 Introductions Session Purpose Agenda Why we wanted to do this session Is it an issue at your school? Who is it an issue for? How big of a deal? Is it just computers or also phones, PDAs, etc? What is the impact of multi-tasking? Kids will be kids or bigger issue? What happens when they go to college? Not just the kids – what about adults? Ideas for managing student electronic distraction Introductions

Is it an issue? “We are experiencing the corrosion of discussion.” Independent School Student “This is the most serious issue facing our school.” Independent School Parent

Multi-tasking US Students: Does multi-tasking with the computer during class affect your ability to listen carefully? Answer Options Response Percent Response Count No, I listen exactly the same when I am off-task36.2%84 Yes, I don't listen quite as well when I am off-task33.6%78 Yes, sometimes I zone out when I am off-task14.2%33 Yes, I often zone out when I am off-task5.6%13 I am never off-task using the computer10.3%24 MS Students: Does multi-tasking with the computer during class affect your ability to listen carefully? Answer Options Response Percent Response Count No, I listen exactly the same when I am off-task33.7%61 Yes, I don't listen quite as well when I am off-task23.8%43 Yes, sometimes I zone out when I am off-task12.2%22 Yes, I often zone out when I am off-task6.1%11 I am never off-task with the computer24.3%44

Multi-tasking In a recent study, a group of Microsoft workers took, on average, 15 minutes to return to serious mental tasks, like writing reports or computer code, after responding to incoming or instant messagesMicrosoft New York Times, “Slow Down, Brave Multi-tasker …” Students who are using an instant messaging program during class or viewing a video clip on their handheld may appear to be off-task if viewed from the expectations of a traditional teaching model. To the tech-enhanced student this behavior is completely natural and not at all an attempt to ‘turn their back’ on learning but rather a natural way to interact and construct their own learning. “As continuous multitaskers, the Net Geners are adept at context switching, often engaging in several activities at the same time” (Dziuban, Hartman & Moskal 2005, p.6). Multitasking and Student Learning, Clint Reddekopp, Graduate Student, University of Saskatchewan

Multi-tasking In Growing Up Digital, author Don Tapscott points out that the students of today already are receiving and processing information differently from their parents. Idit Hare, author of Children Designers, sees today’s children as different types of learners. Their attention spans are shorter so they can multi- task with ease. Participation is now interaction. The techno-tasker is now doing and learning many things simultaneously. “The New Modus Operandi: Techno Tasking” The School Administrator “While my child may find it distracting that other kids are doing this (and he himself does it), he has told me that the main problem is that it sets up a tone of disrespect for the teacher and and disengagement from each other, and really undermines the learning environment. Independent School Parent “beleive that laptops are a great tool to me when taking notes, but nothing more during school hours. i do prefer to take notes on the computer, but the price that i pay for really REALLY low class participation, in classes where teachers do not monitor lap top use probably does not outway the benefit of very organized notes. i would be willing to sacrafice my laptop in order to see more people engaged in class discussion, actually looking at what is going on and the person who is talking--not staring at their screen! Independent School Student

College “I find i cannot keep from going online if I have my laptop with me, even though I didn't have much of a problem with that in high school.” It's distracting and keeps me from engaging in the class (for smaller seminar based classes) and keeps me from paying attention at all for bigger lecture classes Independent School Alumni Young Alumni: Did participating in a laptop program help you learn to focus for college? Answer Options Response Percent Yes, I am less likely to be distracted by the Internet while I am completing school work because I learned how to focus 15.4% No, I am equally likely to be distracted by the Internet while I am completing school work 59.6% I am actually more likely to be distracted by the Internet while I am completing school work because of habits I picked up in my MS/US laptop program 25.0%

Kids will be kids? Young Alumni: Is the opportunity for distraction greater because of the access to computers? Answer OptionsResponse Percent Yes, computers are a much bigger distraction than passing notes, talking in class, and daydreaming 65.5% Yes, computers are a slightly bigger distraction than passing notes, talking in class, and daydreaming 25.5% No, computers are not a bigger distraction that passing notes, talking in class, and daydreaming 9.1%  “The issue is one of balance, and just as in the pre-laptop days, when students doodled, passed notes and daydreamed, they have to learn to do what is important to them, and what will help them succeed.”  “This is the digital equivalent of passing little notes around in class, which some of us fogies may have occasionally done back in the day. It never amounted to a serious problem then, and it probably is no big deal now, to the extent it goes on.”  Independent School parents  “in my day people did message during class, but if you didnt want to be distracted by others you just signed off AIM or another messenger program. in a way, this made you less suceptable to distraction than a studentpassing notes to you.  Independent School Young Alumni

It’s not just the kids At a recent seminar, a colleague in his 50s admitted: “I have a hard time sitting through meetings with all of the technology at my fingertips. Meetings are too slow. I could participate in the meeting and still be productive with my laptop and cell phone or hand-held device. I would use different types of technology to enhance productivity during meetings, but I don’t want to be rude.” “The New Modus Operandi: Techno Tasking” The School Administrator It's not just kids. Walk into any meeting in any institution (corporate or educational) and you see most people doing the "blackberry prayer". Look at how many adults multi-task. Technology is here whether we like it or not. Educators can't put their heads in the sand and ban it. So it really becomes a management issue. Independent School Technology Staff

Ideas What do we do about it? Technical Solution? Filtering Web sites Blocking games or chats Monitoring software Classroom Management techniques? What works? Professional development? More serious consequences? Low tech solutions like mirrors? Impact of implementing ideas Impact on the trust relationship? Time spent policing?

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