iOS app Android app More  Art Markman, Ph.D.   Create a
Distraction-Free Zone  Posted: 02/ 3/2012 12:43 pm  One of the
most frequent questions I get when I talk about thinking to
groups is whether technology is making us smarter or dumber. In
particular, many parents are worried that Google or Wikipedia
are making kids less likely to want to learn.  The easy
availability of the answers to many simple questions may make
kids feel less motivated to learn the details of things that
they can look up easily. But, I think that technology has a more
insidious influence on kids' ability to learn.  Technology
creates distractions.  Almost every kid these days seems
tethered to some set of technological devices. There are iPods
with music and apps, and games; phones with calls and text
messages; computers with IM, Facebook, and Skype; and of course,
the ever-present video game systems.  These devices are fun.
And, used properly, they can provide some fun and enjoyment.
Because they are fun and easy, though, they also