As we are becoming a digital nation, there is much speculation over whether this will help or harm us. “Frontline” examined this topic on television, and it is something that ought to make us all think.
Over the past few decades there has been a tremendous rise in digital involvement. Americans are constantly connected in some way. Whenever we can’t find an answer, we whip out our smart phones and google the answer. In fact, “google” is now an official word of our vocabulary. It can be used either in upper or lower case, as in “google” or “Google.”
The Webster’s dictionary defines google by saying it is “a verb meaning: using the Google search engine to obtain information on the world wide web.”
How did anyone ever function without such readily available materials the Internet provides?
The downfall to having everything here and now is that we always expect it that way. People are becoming more impatient. Their attention spans are short lived. Children are relying on online games and media to hold their attention as opposed to playing outside or reading a book. Inside the classroom students expect learning to be game-oriented as opposed to a more traditional lecture style.
Studies have shown that our quality of learning has decreased. College students are finding it harder and harder to succeed in a literature classes.
When surfing the web, the brain is utilizing several parts and functioning at a fast rate. Therefore, when someone is constantly surfing the web they aren’t exercising their brain as they would when focusing on a single topic or reading a book.
So as college students are assigned reading in their literature classes, they find it hard to focus and comprehend the material, often resulting in poor quality of papers and test grades. As university students, this is something we should consider.
Is it a good idea to rely solely on the Internet?
What will happen to all of the books if we stop using them?
Will our future be in jeopardy because our quality of learning has evolved?
These are all things to consider since our generation is the future. If you want to learn more, check out the Frontline documentary at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/.