Is Technology 'Dumbing Down' Kids?

Experts debate whether today?s kids are helped or hindered by their immersion in technology. Panelists include the lead researcher for the book Growing Up Digital, Mike Dover, the author of The Child and the Machine, Alison Armstrong and Sir Wilfred Laurier Faculty of Education professor Julie Mueller.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• technology
• children
• kids
• dumbing
• advantages
• problems
• focus
• concentration
• reading
• books
• computers
• ipods
• digital
• natives
• Net
• generation

[Faeleena]

@atl2maryland That's a very 2 dimensional, black and white way of thinking about this. It depends on the situation, but I personally feel that the key is balance. In many generations: internet, cell phones, landline phone, the movie theater, rock music, and at one point the piano was radical and affected people's intelligence. At one point books were RADICAL. At that time, the impact the printing press had on society was similar to the impact of the internet in today. Involved parents is crucial

[HairLikeCottonCandy]

@kaiclarkstar

That is not quite a valid argument. AP 8th grade Math is not the best measure of overall intelligence and is no indication of INCREASED intelligence from a previous generation. I was doing algrebra in 8th grade and I also grew up using technology. Nevertheless, I've seen significant improvments in my intelligence by throwing out my TV and spending that extra time playing music and reading.

Sorry to flame an 8th grader, but when I smell conceit I must do my duty.

[HairLikeCottonCandy]

TV, bad diet, and lack of exercise have been dumbing people down for decades.... people even knew it when TV first came out, long before that we knew about VIRTUE and VICE. To be more responsible, I should say that people dumb themselves down with TV ect.

Computers can be used also (and are) BUT they encourage critical thinking far more than television. It is also a less invasive media, whereby you have more control over the flow of information.

[Odesawaan]

What an pointless waste of time. Mostly negative-leading questions fielded to soccer mom traditionalist, flip-flopping blonde and nerd. They refused to acknowledge each others' points in follow-up and half the time dodging the act of answering the question as to how it was asked to continue their talking point from the last question. I'd like this half hour back, please.

[fmbhebrews111]

Technology in the absence of understanding is a hindrance. Technology used to reinforce understanding is an asset. Using a calculator without knowing the basic math facts is stupid. GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). Without understanding, you do not know whether the answer is even in the ballpark or not. To the young man/lady below, my daughter was where you are not too many years ago. Using those graphing calculators in her IB/AP classes made her less competent in the area of math.

[kaiclarkstar]

im in 8th grade and i am in algrebra 1 and pre AP ( prepration for advanced placement ) and i've been using technology since was 5 and everyone in my classes own a computer so it makes kids smarter

[atl2maryland]

@FIGHTFANNERD3 "more smarter".. what is that? With grammar like that I surely don't believe kids are smarter now

[atl2maryland]

technology is dumbing down kids point blank. I was born in '87 and the gap between me and a majority of the 90's babies is ridiculous. It seems as if they have no sense of reality outside of what TV and internet tells them. They can grasp simple concepts but are severely lacking when it comes to higher orders of thinking. All they care about is shopping and smart phones. It's sad.. anyone who denies that kids are getting dumber is part of the problem

[FIGHTFANNERD3]

make the kids do kung fu its good for the brain

[FIGHTFANNERD3]

that red head is full of shitt fact