For example recently I came across a new Web 2.0 tool for
making a timeline – I didn’t need it right away but thought it might be useful
for our Grade 5s later in the year as they move into their Where We Are in
Place and Time unit of inquiry. When that
time comes I’ll be able to find it again by searching my bookmarks for timelines and will be
able to suggest it to the Grade 5 teachers, along with other online timelines
that they might like to have their students use. But right now, for the life of me, I can’t
remember what timeline tool it was. I
know it wasn’t Dipity or Capzles or TimeToast, as I’ve used those before. This is a new one and I found it less than a
month ago – but having added it to Delicious/Diigo I’ve already forgotten it.
Perhaps I’m just getting old, or perhaps I’m now using the
internet as a replacement for my personal memory. Right now I’m asking myself, is memorization
obsolete? Is my memory just like an
index – pointing me to my Delicious/Diigo account whenever I want to find
something? Am I just storing information
digitally, and not storing it in my brain?
And if so, should I even be worried about this, since recall is just a
lower order thinking skill and I don't need to overload my brain with remembering all these little things?
Before the holidays our Grade 4 students were doing a maths
unit on data handling. I showed the
students how to use the spreadsheet in Google Docs and how they could use
Google Forms to make a survey to collect information that could then be turned
into a graph with a simple click. It
always amazes me how easy it is to create fairly complex graphs these
days. When I was at school, it used to
take me ages to make a pie graph. I had
to add up all the numbers, divide into 360, multiply each separate number by
this answer, use a compass and a protractor to draw the circle and divide it
up, colour it in and so on. I don’t
remember there being much time for actually analyzing or interpreting the
graph. Today, when creating a pie chart
takes a matter of seconds, it’s possible to spend much more time on these
higher-order skills, as a result I feel that our Grade 4s have a better
understanding of data than I had at that age. Using the computer to make a graph is definitely a way of creating more time to engage in higher-order thinking.
Is the same true of storing information online instead of
storing it in my head? Does this give my
brain more time for thinking creatively rather than just recalling information? Many would argue that this is not the case –
that we are now having information pop in and out of our short-term memories
without it ever becoming part of our long-term memories. The case with the timelines is typical: I can remember the timelines that I’ve
actually used with students over the past couple of years – but the more recent
one that I found and stored ready to be used or suggested later I can’t recall
at all – it’s left little or no trace in my mind despite the fact that I did set up a trial account and tested it out to see how easy it would be for students
to use before then adding it into my Delicious/Diigo account. It’s a bit scary really how adept my brain
has become at forgetting, now inept it has become at remembering. However since I can retrieve this timeline
tool just with a few clicks anytime I want it, am I crazy to be worrying about
this forgetfulness - what do you think?
Photo Credit: Des étoiles dan les yeux by Biscarotte
Photo Credit: Des étoiles dan les yeux by Biscarotte
I believe what you are asking about Maggie is Tiki Toki, and the only reason I can remember that is because I go to my brilliant 'virtual' memory bank (Evernote) which YOU kindly introduced me.
ReplyDeleteBut now I come to a far more important point which is about "keeping the mind fit". The reality is that this ove-rreliance on 'virtual' memory is in my opinion definitely NOT a good thing. I observe is that technology begs me to RELY on it to help me remember things. The more I rely, the more I forget and that cannot be good.
I see your point about productivity improvement, and we could discuss this for hours, but net net, we all have to remember that the mind is a muscle and the part which requires memory relies on 'physical' exercise.
Moral: Like red wine and sex; use Evernote, but keep it in moderation. :-)
Yes! It's Tiki Toki - it's interesting that you also had to rely on Evernote to find it. Actually I'm thinking I might start to have Evernote replace Delicious for me next year.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing I read recently is that "technology-induced ADD" is probably just a short-term problem as it's based on our cognitive habits that evolved in an era of "limited information flow". This probably won't be a problem for the next generations!