The Impact of Technology Today we will look at: recent developments in the use of technology some recent studies into the impact of technology on its users whether knowledge is important what this means for our use of technology

What Do You Think? It’s easier to learn now that we can use the worldwide web to look things up. Students should be allowed to use Google in exams. It’s a good thing that many under-fives have their own tablets and are confident in using them. Computers improve learning at school. Video gaming is harmless fun.

Recent Headlines There has been a number of recent articles about these topics: Digital dependence ‘eroding human memory’ Tablet computers are widely used by the under- fivesTablet computers are widely used by the under- fives Computers 'do not improve' pupil results, says OECDComputers 'do not improve' pupil results, says OECD Video game use linked to worse GCSEs, study suggestsVideo game use linked to worse GCSEs, study suggests Do you agree with what they are saying?

Do We Need Knowledge? One argument for the use of search engines in exams is that people don’t need to know things any more because we can look them up - what do you think? Cognitive scientists tell us that we need knowledge to understand new things and make more memories. In fact, some believe that knowledge is more important for comprehension than reading skills. Watch this video that explains how.Watch this video that explains how

What Does This Mean? If we rely on technology – e.g. search engines – then we can become dependent on it. What happens if you can’t use the internet one day? If we rely on technology to tell us and remind us of things, rather than remembering them, will our lack of knowledge cause us problems later? Does it matter that under-fives spend a lot of their time using tablets? If it’s true that computers in schools don’t improve results, why do you think that that might be? Has anything in today’s lesson changed the way you feel about technology?

What Does This Mean? Some of these studies have been quite small… …but some results, like the impact of computers in schools, are consistently reported. Technological health scares are often cyclical – all of the news articles are from a two-week period, and next month there might be studies that say that the use of technology is beneficial. Just as with other areas of concern, e.g. the consumption of salt, fats and sugars, maybe the message should be… Play it safe and use technology in moderation!