1. Lost in Electronica – The Costs of the “Chaos of Constant Connection”
This presentation contains the fair use of copyrighted materials

4. We are Bombarded by Electronic Media
Blog
Video Games
Twitter
Cell Phones
Facebook/My Space
Texting
MP3 Players

5. Discussion
Are there times when using cell phones, texting and/or other electronic devices are inappropriate?
If so, when?

6. The mind now craves junk nourishment
Fifty years ago, boredom might have followed a two-hour stretch of nothing to do
Boys today can feel bored after thirty seconds with nothing specific to do
Continuous stimulation is now the new normal
Is boredom good or bad?

7. Turn Off the Electronics
Boredom indicates the presence of available resources for thought, reflection and civil behavior
Civil behavior requires patience, forethought and some willingness to tolerate tedium
Unlike reading and listening to stories, electronics don’t build deeper listening skills or a great range of emotional expression
We need to maintain effective social contacts with others
The Thinker

8. Impact of Electronics on Learning
Increasing learning difficulties and attention deficits has correlated with the advent of the electronic playground
The constant short-term stimulation of flitting to and fro among digital promptings can impede long-term memory
Could this be one reason American students don’t do well on international tests?

9. Can You Hear Me Now?
Dial down the volume on your ipod and listen to this: one in five adolescents now suffers from hearing loss.
Playing music too loud is partly to blame.
Keep these numbers in mind:
60 You can listen all day if you keep the volume at 60% of the max
80 for 90 You can boost the volume to 80% for 90% of the day
100 If you want to crank up the volume as high as it’ll go, keep it short – just five minutes a day

11. Texting While Driving
Teens don’t think texting while driving is as dangerous as drunken driving
Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of teenagers’ deaths
Talking on a cell while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70 year old
56% of teenagers admit to talking on cell phone or texting while driving
20% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between ages were the result of cell phone use

12. Texting While Driving is Criminal Offense in Utah
Utah has nation’s toughest law on texting while driving
Utah treats texting & driving as serious as it pursues drunk driving
More Utah residents are killed in motor vehicle crashes caused by texting than from car accidents caused by DUI
If someone is killed in an accident caused by texting, the at-fault driver will be charged with negligent homicide

13. Face to Face Conversation?
Teenage girls send or receive an average of 80 text messages a day
77% of teens text their friends daily; however, less than 30% actually talk to their friends daily

14. No texting at the table!
Do NOT use cell phones or any other electronic device at the table
Your attention should be focused on the people you’re with

15. Excessive Cell Phone/Texting Use
Leads to anxiety
Is a distraction at school
Falling Grades
Repetitive stress injury – damage to thumbs
Sleep deprivation

16. “Continuous Partial Attention”
Term coined by a former Microsoft Executive
Example: Many kids text while watching tv
Many kids are logging almost 11 hours of media usage per day
Students who did a lot of media multi-tasking did worse on tests than did students who didn’t do much media multi-tasking
Too much media = lack of ability to focus

17. Turn It Off Turn it off! Teenagers need LOTS of sleep
Turn off all electronics & digital devices by 9:30 p.m. and go to sleep
Sleep deprivation in teens affects memory consolidation & behavioral regulation
Even if you get 9-10 hours of sleep per night but sustain multiple interruptions – from, say, a buzzing iPhone next to your pillow, you will suffer cognitively and feel tired the next day
Turn it off!

18. Works Cited
Moore, Steve. In the Bleachers, Ogden Standard Examiner, Sept. 2010
Will, George. Lost in Electronica, Time Magazine, August 23, 2010.
Survey: Teens don’t think texting while driving as dangerous as drunken driving. Ogden Standard Examinder, September 24, 2010.
Say It Loud: Turn It Down. Readers Digest, November 2010
Conley, Dalton. Wired for Distraction. Time Magazine,