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theme: technology

How has technology changed the way we read, write, and think?

Is Google Making Us Stupid?What the Internet is doing to our brains

Get SmarterPandemics. Global warming. Food shortages. No more fossil fuels. What are humans to do? The same thing the species has done before: evolve to meet the challenge. But this time we don’t have to rely on natural evolution to make us smart enough to survive. We can do it ourselves, right now, by harnessing technology and pharmacology to boost our intelligence. Is Google actually making us smarter?

Is doom scrolling really rotting our brains? The evidence is getting harder to ignore | Siân Boyle‘Brain rot’ is the Oxford word of the year – a fitting choice, given the startling impact the internet is having on our grey matter, says journalist Siân Boyle

AI

AI cheating is overwhelming the education system – but teachers shouldn’t despair | John NaughtonWith adjustments to the way we teach students to think about writing, we can shift the emphasis from product to process

Smartphones Are So OverSnap is trying to make computers fun again.

Chromebooks are a classroom staple — and a double-edged swordWe reminisced about our pre-iPhone days when we used to explore the neighborhood and left to our own devices. (No devices!)

California advances landmark legislation to regulate large AI modelsGroundbreaking bill aims to reduce potential AI risks – requiring model testing and disclosure of safety protocol

What Is ChatGPT and How Is It Used in Education?Some educators think the popular AI bot could revolutionize teaching. Others worry it will have the opposite effect.

‘This song sucks’: Nick Cave responds to ChatGPT song written in style of Nick CaveSinger-songwriter dissects lyrics produced by popular chatbot, saying it is ‘a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human’

The End of High-School EnglishI’ve been teaching English for 12 years, and I’m astounded by what ChatGPT can produce.

AI Is Not the New CryptoThe torrent of investor money that flowed into crypto is now hitting the AI scene. We’re already seeing the results.

ChatGPT is making up fake Guardian articles. Here’s how we’re responding | Chris MoranThe risks inherent in the technology, plus the speed of its take-up, demonstrate why it’s so vital that we keep track of it, writes the Guardian’s head of editorial innovation, Chris Moran

Tech guru Jaron Lanier: ‘The danger isn’t that AI destroys us. It’s that it drives us insane’The godfather of virtual reality has worked beside the web’s visionaries and power-brokers – but likes nothing more than to show the flaws of technology. He discusses how we can make AI work for us, how the internet takes away choice – and why he would ban TikTok

We Gave ChatGPT 5 Common Teaching Tasks. Here’s How Teachers Say It DidEdWeek asked ChatGPT to generate a lesson plan, a response to a concerned parent, feedback on student work, and more.

TikTok, Boom. | Gen Z Influencers Explain Social Media Platform TikTok for YouFrom Gen Z innovation and community to censorship and racism, how TikTok is the world's most popular and complex social media platform.

WCC Writing - AI-Assisted Writing How College Instructors Need to Prepare for AI-Assisted Student Writing “AI-assisted student writing is a growing trend in higher education, and college instructors need to be prepared to teach students how to use AI tools to improve their writing skills.” Does that sound scary? It doesn’t have to

This economist won every bet he made on the future. Then he tested ChatGPTBryan Caplan was skeptical after AI struggled on his midterm exam. But within months, it had aced the test

How ChatGPT and Other LLMs Work—and Where They Could Go NextLarge language models like AI chatbots seem to be everywhere. If you understand them better, you can use them better.

6 Ways to Use ChatGPT to Save TimeTeachers can use the artificial intelligence tool to effectively automate some routine tasks.

We asked the new AI to do some simple rocket science. It crashed and burnedComputers traditionally excel at rocketry, so why do new artificial intelligence programs get it wrong?

Why I’m Not Scared of ChatGPTThe limits of the technology are where real writing begins.

6 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental HealthScrolling through Facebook might be one of the worst things we can do for our mental health.

Childhood

Alexa’s Most Dangerous Feature Can’t Be UndoneIt’s her voice.

Frustrated With The Distractions Phones Cause, Some Schools Ban ThemPhones are potent learning tools, but they've also become big distractions in many classrooms. Now, some schools are taking steps to reduce their temptation by banning their use during the entire school day.

How Tech Is Changing Childhood | Common SenseThis interactive impact report from Common Sense explores influential media moments of the past 15 years, revealing how smartphones, streaming platforms, virtual reality, online privacy concerns, and other technological shifts have contributed to an age of 24/7 connectivity and changed childhood as we know it.

Combating the Problems With Facebook and Instagram: 8 Tips for TeachersFacebook did extensive research on its negative impact on children’s mental health, but didn't act on those findings, a whistleblower says.

Addiction

'Irresistible' By Design: It's No Accident You Can't Stop Looking At The ScreenTechnology is designed to be addictive, offering gratification that's similar to that of drug abuse or gambling. Author Adam Alter says a new frontier could soon provide another escape from reality.

Are Teenagers Replacing Drugs With Smartphones?The use of smartphones and tablets has exploded over the same period that drug use has declined among American teens. Researchers say the correlation is worth exploring.

'Our minds can be hijacked': the tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopiaThe Google, Apple and Facebook workers who helped make technology so addictive are disconnecting themselves from the internet. Paul Lewis reports on the Silicon Valley refuseniks who worry the race for human attention has created a world of perpetual distraction that could ultimately end in disaster

Apple investors call for action over iPhone 'addiction' among childrenOpen letter highlights growing concern that Silicon Valley is damaging youth and urges new parental controls, child protection committee and release of data

How big tech finally awakened to the horror of its own inventionsIt took years for ex-Facebook and Google bosses to criticize what they had created – but they seem to have had a collective change of heart. Perhaps it’s because they now have children of their own

Former Facebook and Google workers launch campaign to fight tech addictionCampaign to highlights potential harm of digital platforms and social media on young people, alongside a call to regulate tech companies

Can You Really Be Addicted to Video Games?The latest research suggests it’s not far-fetched at all — especially when you consider all the societal and cultural factors that make today’s games so attractive.

Thought / the Mind

How TikTok ate the internetYou don’t tell TikTok what you want to see. It tells you. And the internet can’t get enough.

Screen Time Syndrome: Brain Images Explain Why Kids Are Moody, Impulsive & Can't Pay AttentionOften parents have a nagging sense they should limit screen time, but often question whether there’s enough evidence to justify yanking coveted devices.

5 TED Talks Every Social Media Pro Should WatchGet a better understanding of the processes and implications of social media adoption, and why that matters for business, with these TED Talks sessions.

Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?More comfortable online than out partying, post-Millennials are safer, physically, than adolescents have ever been. But they’re on the brink of a mental-health crisis.

Is your smartphone ruining your memory? A special report on the rise of ‘digital amnesia’‘I can’t remember anything’ is a common complaint these days. But is it because we rely so heavily on our smartphones? And do the endless alerts and distractions stop us forming new memories?

Opinion | The Blindness of Social WealthThe big issue surrounding Facebook isn’t privacy. It’s the socially poor.

Is technology producing a decline in critical thinking and analysis?As technology has played a bigger role in our lives, our skills in critical thinking and analysis have declined, while our visual skills have improved, a UCLA researcher reports.

Here's why writing things out by hand makes you smarterThe pen is mightier.

You 2.0: Deep Work - Hidden Brain (podcast)00:33:45 - When your phone buzzes or a notification pops up your screen, do you stop what you're doing to look and respond? That's what many of us are doing....

For the full life experience, put down all devices and walk – John Kaag & Susan Froderberg | Aeon IdeasThe art of walking is antithetical to ‘screening’ our world – for the full life experience, just step out the door and walk

Media and Young MindsInfants, toddlers, and preschoolers are now growing up in environments saturated with a variety of traditional and new technologies, which they are adopting at increasing rates. Although there has been much hope for the educational potential of interactive media for young children, accompanied by fears about their overuse during this crucial period of rapid brain development, research in this area still remains limited. This policy statement reviews the existing literature on television, videos, and mobile/interactive technologies; their potential for educational benefit; and related health concerns for young children (0 to 5 years of age). The statement also highlights areas in which pediatric providers can offer specific guidance to families in managing their young children’s media use, not only in terms of content or time limits, but also emphasizing the importance of parent–child shared media use and allowing the child time to take part in other developmentally healthy activities.

Deepfake danger: what a viral clip of Bill Hader morphing into Tom Cruise tells usAre deepfakes a threat to democracy? The creator of a series of viral clips says he is raising awareness of their subversive potential

Why Boredom Often Beats Screen TimeTeaching the nuances of when and how to use technology—and leaving room for boredom—can be invaluable, says journalist Manoush Zomorodi.

Attention is not a resource but a way of being alive to the world – Dan Nixon | Aeon IdeasWhen attention is a limited resource, it can run out. Treat it as an experience, and it yields a rich sense of purpose

Social Media & Privacy

Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences (2018) | Common Sense MediaTeens use media in unexpected and meaningful ways. This report surveys young people about how social media affects their social and emotional well-being, for better or worse, and explores the major changes and trends in social media use since 2012.

How TikTok and YouTube Made Me a Better Teacher (Opinion)Social media may be winning the battle for students’ attention, but teachers can still steal back our “viewers.”

Orwell knew: we willingly buy the screens that are used against us – Henry Cowles | Aeon IdeasOrwell’s predicted it: citizens willingly buy for entertainment the very screens that can be used against us

Right-Wing Hate Groups Are Recruiting Video GamersExperts say white supremacist hate groups are targeting young video game fans for recruitment via YouTube, Twitch, game-related forums and directly within multiplayer game chat.

Headset HypocrisyBy the 2020 election, the market for virtual reality is projected to increase twentyfold. That's great news for VR's proponents who relish the technology's persuasive powers, but what does it mean for those inside the headset?

Technology Resources for Families - Bellingham Public SchoolsBellingham Public Schools is committed to preparing students for a rapidly changing world. We realize that our students need guidance as they learn to be critical thinkers, respectful and compassionate humans, and honest citizens in digital spaces. Our schools are continually developing programs to support student learning using technology in healthy, safe, and ethical ways. The … Read more »

Amazon Echo Recorded And Sent Couple's Conversation — All Without Their KnowledgeIn what it called an "unlikely" string of events, Amazon says Alexa heard background conversation and misconstrued it as very specific directives.

Do Not Disturb: How I Ditched My Phone and Unbroke My BrainI couldn’t read a book, watch a full-length movie or sustain a long conversation. Late last year, I decided enough was enough.

Opinion | How We Destroy Lives TodayWill the Covington Catholic High School fiasco change social media?

Stop Letting Modern Distractions Steal Your AttentionMaking yourself inaccessible from time to time is essential to boosting your focus.

Screen Time - Part IIt's normal for us to always be glued to our screens. So how are they changing us, and how will they shape our future? This hour, TED speakers explore our ambivalent relationships with our screens.

Why family group texts cause anxiety, and how to escape them – Elisabeth Sherman | Aeon IdeasEndless love: if your family ensnares you in constant group texts and emails that cause anxiety, set some boundaries

What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good?Social media has become our new home. Can we build it better? Taking design cues from urban planners and social scientists, technologist Eli Pariser shows how the problems we're encountering on digital platforms aren't all that new -- and shares how, by following the model of thriving towns and cities, we can create trustworthy online communities.

Technology & Literacy Education

Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops AwayResearchers Pam Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer found that students remember more via taking notes longhand rather than on a laptop. It has to do with what happens when you're forced to slow down.

Writing essays by formula teaches students how to not think – David Labaree | Aeon EssaysWriting essays by a formula was meant to be a step on the way. Now it’s the stifling goal for student and scholar alike

The Scientific Debate Over Teens, Screens And Mental Health What's the link between smartphone use and teens' mental health? Experts disagree, with some arguing that the threat is overblown.

Research shows lower test scores for fourth graders who use tablets in schoolsA mounting body of evidence indicates that educational technology in schools isn't boosting student achievement as its proponents had hoped it would

Technology & Society

Google Loved Me, Until I Pointed Out Everything That Sucked About It Claire Stapleton didn't just buy into the lore of Google—she helped write it. What happened when the bard of Google became one of its most vocal critics?

Alienated, Alone And Angry: What the Digital Revolution Really Did To UsWe were promised community, civics, and convenience. Instead, we found ourselves dislocated, distrustful, and disengaged.

How to be indistractable | Psyche GuidesStop blaming technology – distraction starts within. Manage your inner triggers to enjoy greater focus and a fuller life

Is Learning on Zoom the Same as In Person? Not to Your Brain - EdSurge NewsAt this point the Zoom call has almost come to define learning and working in the age of COVID-19. But a few months ago, people began realizing that ...

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