Do you think the internet has made us dumbmer?
By laydee
@laydee (12798)
Philippines
June 9, 2010 7:58am CST
I was browsing along the webpages yesterday while waiting for my next class, and since mylot is blocked from our University computer, among others, I couldn't really create this topic.
But it was an article I think over cnn.com that there were studies that show that prolonged internet use whether at school or at home (for students) doesn't really make them smarter but actually makes them dumber.
It was shown there that there were studies comparing 2 groups of students. The first one was allowed to use their laptops and gadgets while learning - they used it to find resources on the topic, while the other group wasn't allowed to use their gadgets at all. Then the two groups were given an exam and surprisingly, the group of students who weren't allowed to use the gadgets scored alarmingly greater than those who did.
The explanation was that although the internet provides people with information it somehow distracts the reader because it allows far too much information than what is needed. Further, the supplying of such information only causes the retention of the reader of the information to be smaller as compared to those who have been reading such from one context alone. In effect, comprehension of what is being read was far smaller for those who were using their gadgets as to those who didn't.
I know that most would react against it, but there is really logic behind the studies. Why? Well, for one thing, most of our students and we ourselves are quite distracted with the internet. There are far more information that aren't really valuable to us online as compared to just reading them in books. Yes, the internet could entertain us more, but what do you think would be the implication of such studies to our general welfare altogether?
I only regret that I cannot find that article in order that you yourselves could read it. But as far as I'm concerned, I think it's high time that I try to minimize allowing my nephew and brothers and soon-to-be children to be using the internet more often. I think there should be a well balanced set of rules in terms of 'reading time', 'arts times', and internet time in order that their experiences and mine would not be hindered by such "distractions".
What do you think?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@jayemway (16)
• Philippines
10 Jun 10
depending on your interests and purposes in using the internet, that will determine if it will make you dumb or smart. If your surfing the net for researches to acquire more knowledge in one way and another, definitely it is an advantage. but if you're going to use it for pleasure or just for fun, especially the social networks that usually users spent more time then it's another story.
2 people like this
@Honeybuttz (256)
• Philippines
10 Jun 10
Everything has it's advantages and disadvantages. The internet is very advantageous because of the rich information we get, and we definitely learn a lot of things, that are helpful to increase our knowledge and sharpen our minds. The disadvantage of the internet is when, we only use it for mindless pleasures like online gambling, surfing adult sites, you are just looking for scandalous news to read. That is when the person gets dumber.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
10 Jun 10
I think it's within the ease of doing something that makes us lazier that leads to being dumber. Just like how fastfood has changed the way people eat, only a few knows how to cook these days, most of us are succumbing to the tastes of the manufacturers because of the instant meals and mixes we have.
Fewer know how to make things from scratch these days.
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
9 Jun 10
Herro laydee
I don't think the internet has made us dumber as maybe lazier. It is easier to pop on-line than it is to go to the library and look up info in paper references.
The internet wasn't available to me when I was going to school. I looked things up in encyclopedias, and other reference material. The other advantage of the internet is usually the material is more current. Most paper references are at least a year old, (including maps). Textbooks in Texas are kept for 10years. The other issue with the internet is you can be overloaded with information. You simply remember all the material you read.
I like mylot because I learn lots from discussions.
Prosperous mylotting
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
10 Jun 10
I think, to us who have been using references in books and libraries when we were younger, the internet indeed is a breath of fresh air because of the ease and speed of information sent to us. It is because we have already been trained how to comprehend and research through all the researching and reading we've done in our lifetime during our school years.
However, I am fearing for the young generation these days where most of them spend hours and hours online. Not to mention that the information here online are from people who write them down as their 'thoughts'. Somehow provided comprehension to students instead of ticking their minds into generating ideas for themselves.
One clear example is the problem solving skills of students. The books don't really provide all the answers which is why we are forced to think about it more and more. Unfortunately, these textbook problems are solved online by some person and the answer is readily there for the taking. Therefore, the venue for analysis and trial-and-error has been skipped.
What do you think would the internet's freedom of information be giving our children soon? A resource where you no longer need to think and comprehend, just copy and paste.
1 person likes this
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
10 Jun 10
Herro laydee
Yes, you are on target in your thoughts. As I was reading your response, I thought of how many times a young cashier could not make change if the electronic cash register was on the fritz. I still check my change, more to keep my skills fresh, when I get change. I still go to the library from time to time and research a topic to keep fresh.
I do enjoy mylot because gives me the opportunity to think and draft responses to discussions.
Prosperous mylotting
1 person likes this
@med889 (5941)
•
10 Jun 10
With Internet we hardly go in libraries nowadays, the other day my nephew told me he has to do some researches for his homework,I ask him to check in the books on the bookshelf and if he has any other problems he can ask me so he replied that his teacher asked him to search on the Internet, when I saw his notebook, it was stated at the bottom that Internet can be useful for the homework, I find it really weird because my nephew is only eight and in school they are making the children as from now used to the Internet. So I think there should be some more activities instead to learn from that always learning through Internet.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
11 Jun 10
It's true, being overly dependent on something that gives us quick answers may be okay for adults who know hows to balance themselves, but I'm more concerned with the children who feel that everything is quick and easy.
I think homework is more than finishing something. Its supposed to teach us the value of patience, hardwork, and all other values that we learn from doing things slowly rathen hastily.
I'm sad for your nephew. I guess it's high time family do something about it by nurturing them and motivating them to read and do things without the use of internet all the time.
@cloudymcstiles (40)
• Indonesia
10 Jun 10
In my experience, using the internet has made me lazier and made me a slow thinker, not dumber. I regret that really :( because now, I can search everything even the most detailed question on the internet. I can simply use an online translator if I do not understand a word or phrase. The problem is... When will I start thinking with my own brain again? It is so hard when everything is provided! :'(
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
10 Jun 10
Exactly my thoughts. Just like how I made a mess on the title of this topic, I didn't do that intentionally, I really just forgot the spelling and was relying on firefox to correct me, but the feature doesn't cover the title line somehow and there you have it, proof that I too am affected by this laziness.
@Metatronik (6199)
• Pasay, Philippines
13 Jun 10
For me it really depends on a person on how he use the internet, I mean basically example is that if the teacher would give an assignment of what is the answer for 1+1=? there will be a person who will search on the internet to find an answer because he does not want to think or there will be student who will not use for the internet but will think for the answer of course by analyzing it. It depends on the person if he will decide to have an spoon feeding rather than learning. But if that is actually all about the information I believe the internet will be the easiest access to search for a certain topic, at times it has complete details.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
14 Jun 10
I do understand your point there. But how many percentage of students do you think would rather think or analyze it when the answer is just there on their fingertips?
I actually teach college students and last week I gave them an assignment regarding what they thought about something, particularly "Why do you think companies need to borrow money? or do they need to?"
Well, obviously, I was asking for their opinion. Out of 45 students about 10 did research - it was good, yeah, but sadly they copied about a paragraph per website too. Further, most copied a few lines on websites and comments of people about the topic and failed to quote appropriate references.
Now, with this thing going on, do you think these students would ever try to think about it instead of just copy-pasting and hoping that teachers won't get to notice? If they continue with such, don't you think it would soon cost them their intelligence and thus make them dumber sooner or later?
@Nightshroud (41)
• Romania
9 Jun 10
Defenetly not..if anything it made me a lot smarter in a lot of ways! A whole mess of people dont use it and regret it (its to late...they got old)...you can call them outcasts! Internet rulez!
1 person likes this
@Honeybuttz (256)
• Philippines
10 Jun 10
I could say balance is the key. But in my case, I find the internet very beneficial because of the information I get from it. Let's admit it, the internet is a very rich source of information. Perhaps it depends on the person not to be distracted and out of focus when learning and studying, using the internet.
@rastogisw (445)
• India
9 Jun 10
Yes I also feel like internet making us dumb , earlier I remember everything which I read from books and brought from library .Now, I never feel like to remember those things because I have internet, when I want to search something I just search from here...few days back I want some information about few things and my internet was not working ....on that time I feel like helpless and dumb too that why I dint fetch out the information from somewhere else earlier.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
10 Jun 10
I know how you feel. I felt blank and still continue feeling blank whenever power is out, it's really crazy because I feel like I can't do anything anymore without the internet.
Yesterday, I was at our library using the internet when the suddenly power went out and all we did (all the people there) seemed stuck for a while then started picking out books and magazines to read. It was at that very moment, when my mind seemed to hang that I realized that I am not over-dependent on technology.
I think the easeness of fetching information online has made us a little bit lazier and dependent. Plus, there are many varied information that is online that most of it aren't really important to us.
