It will come as no surprise to frequent readers that I have a healthy distrust of technology: inventions and innovations are only as good as their creators. We are human and therefore imperfect. The tools we construct will reflect this reality.
Furthermore, with every technological advance, we must often find our footing rather quickly with regards to the moral, ethical, long term implications, and unintended consequences of so-called ‘progress.’
Most of these considerations are hardly given a second thought…at first. The dizzying prospect of profit for the vendors and the quick-fix convenience for the masses are too great to resist. And while technology has obviously made life better in general, to overpromise and under-delivery is a sad, common phenomenon in the marketplace of ideas and improvements.
And so I often say… caveat emptor.
Such was and is the case with smartphones. Several years ago, even as friends of mine–lifelong teachers and educational professionals–hurried to accommodate the smartphone expertise displayed by their students (‘digital natives’ they called them), I was suspicious of a mobile phone’s place in the classroom and its role in education.
I believe I made such statements on this blog. (It’s been ten years of blogging here, so forgive me if I’m unwilling to scour for the actual post.)
The device is such as obvious distraction. It could not possibly benefit classroom learning, which is almost always dependent upon uninterrupted attention and stimulating engagement. Additionally, a smartphone’s detrimental side effects (social media usage and attention span impairment) are even more pronounced on vulnerable young minds.
The entire concept smacked of a bad idea.
Well, all this time later, it seems more and more people agree.
Here’s a recent, insightful article from the New York Times…
And a paper from the National Institute of Health…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9676861/
I think it’s great that scientists and educators have done their research, noted their experiences, and embraced the idea of keeping smartphones out of the classroom.
However, there are times that common sense should lead the way. On the face of it, did anyone really think for any length of time on the simple question: will it be a good idea for a student to be looking at their mobile phone during class? I don’t believe they did.
Please know that I don’t live in an ivory tower. I am not an old codger, grumbling at every new transformation. I live and work in the real world.
I am aware: things will inevitably change, and often quickly. But I am wise: they will not change as much as we might hope, and not necessarily in the way we might anticipate.
So when the media and ‘experts’ immediately rave about a new technology (electric cars, smartphones, artificial intelligence, etc) and all the good it’s going to do and all the revolutionary change it’s going to bring, remember: newspapers and television news outlets need compelling content, every day, 24 hours a day. Corporations need new products and services to sell. Pundits need something to discuss and debate. Politicians need something to denounce, something to stoke fear.
Someone needs to be the adult in the room, without an agenda, above the fray, using common sense to look out for the common good.
Until a suitable candidate comes forward to fill that void, I guess it’s up to us.
- BGT