Are we too comfortable with Technology?

Technology can be defined as the latest gadgets, the internet, videos, games, audio websites, social networking websites, etc which makes our lives more convenient without having to travel, we spend time online and get information as well as get entertained at the same time.

As such, the growing concern here is that the constant switching of tasks means the Youth will not be able to sustain their attention on each of the task. “Their brains are not rewarded for staying on task but for jumping to the next thing” says Michael Rich, Associate Professor of Harvard Medical School and executive director of the Centre on Media and Children Health in Boston.To add on, he says,and the effects could linger “The worry is that we are raising a generation of kids in front of screens whose brains are going to be wired differently”

To deal with this problem, Westwood High Scool Principal, David Reilly, 37 suggests using the same technology to get back the children’s attention.I think this is a wonderful concept.Websites are to be created to communicate with students, classes where  digital tools are used to record music, iPads used to teach Mandrin and so on.Students who are tech savy want to flaunt their skills and they spend a lot of their homework time trying to learn the technology they love.I do not  mean to say this is wrong but not at the cost of their regular learning curriculum. To well utilise their skills in the use of technology, college programs should start portals for online discussion of a specific subject matter and also have more online quizzes to give them the feeling that they went online to do their college work.If that is not creative enough, colleges should involve students in designing aspects using the various technology softwares like Dreamwever, Photoshop cs3 to create websites,brochures of their own.

Youth want instant gratification and they opt for E-books.Is that a viable option? Yes, certainly.Recently, Samsung Galaxy Tab was launched in the Indian msrkets.It offers an unique application called “Reader’s Hub” which gives access to a vast digital Library.One can access over 2 million e-books, 3,000 magazines and 1,600 newspapers in English and Vernacular languages on the go.How else can you enrich your knowledge other than the use of Technology? Lifestyles of Youth made more easier, knowledge is now at your hand, No, palm.

The cost of owning one Galaxy tab might burn into your purse strings demanding 2 months salary close to Rs.38,000. Well, its worth all the penny you invest.You want to get satisfied in information gathering, news, song collection (100,000 indian songs), GPS maps which help guide you around India and what’s more, you have an ultimate HD experience with full time connectivity to the net. This means as Youth, non-stop connectedness to the social world. Facebook, Twitter, hotmail and the list goes on.

Youth can break boundaries and come out as winners provided they use technology to the common good of all. Presentations in classes be in Video or Powerpoint silde Shows, it interacts with the students and helps sustain their interest for a longer span of time. This will mean that the content too stays in the minds of  the students as they are actively involved in the process of sharing and receiving information. In short, technology is our friend. If misused, it can turn into a foe.

http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/2007/10/facebook-as-learning-platform.html

http://hubpages.com/hub/Embrace-Technology-Early-How-To-Enhance-Learning-Through-Blogs-Wikis-Videos-And-Podcasts