Literacy literally changes the human brain. The process of learning to read changes our brain, but so does what we read, how we readand on what we read (print, e-reader, phone, laptop). This is especially important in our new reality, when many people are tethered to multiple screens at any given moment. With much of the world working from home, and millions of students learning at home, developing a biliterate brain – one adapted to both digital and traditional print literacy – has never been more important.
The poet TS Eliot presciently asked: “Where is the knowledge in our information? Where is the wisdom in our knowledge?” Neuroscientists and educators ask similar questions: will different mediums advantage or disadvantage our abilities to acquire information, distinguish what is true, immerse ourselves in the perspectives of others and turn information into knowledge, the precursor of wisdom? The emerging answers will have profound implications […]
I watched my daughter and her Waldorf school classmates learn multiplication tables, while bouncing a ball to one another and speaking the, aloud… I decided to apply that to all the learning I could as an adult for myself. In that case it was mostly individual – but sometimes social. My conclusion was that anything learned when accompanied with physical activity or experience – is more deeply imbedded. And of course, practice, practice, practice. I agree that the fallout from Trump’s ineptitude in dealing with the pandemic (and in many other areas) will be more fully revealed as the years continue – and long after he is out of office.
I also will add that, so often I actually have to work at setting time aside to read an actual book. Seems these days 90% of my reading is online – I love to read. I REALLY love to sit down with a good book. It is an activity, actually for me. Also reminds me of music. In my early days of listening to music (mostly rock-n-roll) – it was a physical process of getting the vinyl album out of its cover, putting in on a turntable, listening to one side, and when it was over – turn it over to the other side. I still love listening to music of more varieties, now. But that physical and active process requires just a little bit less attention….. less of an experience. It was also quite social. We got together to listen to the newest album for our favorites artists, and we had to get together to do that. Good article.
i know a psychiatrist who said when they stopped teaching cursive in schools, she wept. girls especially test new handwriting styles as their personality evolves. the hand/eye/brain connection and the impact on brain development should be instantly intuitive to every educator. it seems that industry sets the agendas and our educators and politicians fall in line doing what they are told which makes our kids only a means to an end for the demonic, sociopathic greed mongers who have destroyed generations of our kids brains with their screens. it is important that we all let our school boards, politicians and pta groups know that we are not willing to hand our kids over to corporate and political agendas without a fight. we want text books, not screens and maybe a solution to all of this is small groups of parents forming homeschool groups. homeschooling has long been known to be superior and colleges are known to be partial to kids who have been homeschooled. remember, public school is a relatively recent development. kids were aculturated at home and in the community before they were gathered in groups for indoctrination.
I understand, David; my grandfather learned everything he knew from experience with help from older people, mostly within our family tree.
Without delving into conspiracy explanations it would seem this prepares most of the population for the AI robotics future that too many see as a wonderful new world. Self-driving cars will prevent accidents moving people effortlessly to their destination while their FitBit monitors their health for optimal wellness.
I remember reading that many of the tech moguls would not let their young children use computers and smart phones. Studies have shown and they have admitted that the devices are designed to be entrancing and addictive.
As more time passes in whatever degree of lockdown I wonder about the the emotional damage done to children who not only are fixated on screens but are constantly warned to be very afraid of others, wash hands frequently, don’t get close to others, wear your mask, sickness is ever a threat. When this virus has had it way with us and we find a way to move on then what becomes of the children/adults with the deeply ingrained fear/dread of infection?
One good thing about “screen learning” is that one can make the letters larger for those needing glasses (especially if they do not have the correct ones). Another is the quick ability to look up a word which you do not understand by using an online dictionary or wikipedia, which I must do a lot.
Trump didn’t close schools, businesses, and parks. State governors did. State governors that locked-down their states have destroyed their state’s economies because of it, not Trump. There are lawsuits against some of these state governors, plus some are being investigated by the Department of Justice for putting COVID positive patients into nursing homes with the most vulnerable populations. In the U.S. the highest death rates are all in the states that put COVID patients into nursing homes.
Some states did NOT lock-down (South Dakota) and their death rates were no more than other states, plus they did NOT destroy the economy and many people’s lives.