Digital Distractions

by Colleen Worrell, Secondary Technology Integration Coordinator

 

Last spring I shared an article from Slate.com (You’ll Never Learn!), which confirmed what most teachers and parents already know: doing homework while texting, watching TV, and occasionally jumping on Snapchat or Twitter can be hazardous to a student’s grades. With a new class of 1:1 learners, I wanted to share this with parents of the Freshman class, since they, too, should be aware of a research study by the Kaiser Foundation on the downsides of “media multitasking” while doing schoolwork.

The goal of the HHS 1:1 Laptop program is to create an environment that enhances learning, not detracts from it. I wanted to share this article with parents to give you some well-researched reasons for asking your children to focus their attention on one thing at a time so they can devote quality time to learning and to make schoolwork "count." As the Slate article advises, “make sure when [students are] doing schoolwork, the cellphones are silent, the video screens are dark, and that every last window is closed but one.”

Image credit: The Marketing Craftsmanship blog