I have long thought that Carol is right -- people are learning differently
today than they were hundreds or thousands of years ago. And the changes
have been driven by technology.
It began before the printing press, and at that time, because books were
scarce, memorization was critical. That skill was important in selecting
the learned people of those times. There were in fact treatises on
techniques for memorization.
When the printing press came along, I can imagine the older learned folk
sitting around grousing about the young who did not have the same level of
concentration as the older ones, and who had very little ability to
memorize. The book was ruining everything.
The kinds of changes that are going on now will cause comparable
revolutions in how we learn. It is possible that concentration will
decline, and that we will learn more through visual/aural media than we do
now. Personally, I would love to be around in 150 years to see where al
this ends up before the next revolution.
Rol Fessenden
LL Bean
76234.3636@compuserve.com
Replying to LO4691 --
People and especially the children are learning differently today than a
generation ago.
I submit that:
1. At one time we learned through memorization. The math tables are an
example. Attention spans were relatively long.
2. Then with the writings on stone through the prime of the books we learned
through reading and listening. Attention span decreased somewhat to accomodate
ready.
3. As TV became popular, we began learn through visuals. Attention span
decreased to accomodate this learning style.
4. With the cyber age we learn through visuals with sound. Attention span is
changing to accomodate cyber learning.
You can also look at the changes in music. Relative to the thirties, the music
today consists of short burst of words with a lot sounds. Many people now learn
in short burst with lots of sounds.
If you check the stats, you probably will find that less books are sold today
than there were 10 years ago, 20 years ago. Publishers continue making the
profits through increased prices and reduced operating costs.
If you check the stats, you probably will find more CDs with visuals and
interactives are sold today than 5 years ago. These CDs have replaced books.
If you check the stats, you probably will find computers are in about 80 - 90%
of the homes and in 99% of the schools.
Have you ever thought that maybe the children are just as smart as ever, that
maybe we use the wrong instrument to measure smartness or we are measuring the
wrong thing?
-- Butch Whisnant carold.whisnant@astd.noli.com
-- Rol Fessenden <76234.3636@compuserve.com>