Blog 16 - Messy Hyper Draft

Should toddlers or preschoolers multitask?

To answer this question you must look or examine what is multitasking? According to Hayles article "Hyper and Deep Attention:The Generational Divide in Cognitive Modes" by Katherine Hayles. This article tells or explains multitasking or in some circles Hyper Attention is a genertation mindset. Multitasking or Hyper Attention is when a person performs more than just one task at a time. For example, if you are on the computer and are listing to your favorite itunes, than that is considered multiasking. Hayles talks about hyper attention as something new and is more evident in the generation that has been exposed to the computer. Hayles compares the mindsets and the person who is more likely to do multitasking. For instance, a person of my age (thirtyish) would not likely be considered a hyper attention person because our exposure was to do or be committed to one task at a time, which is called Deep attention. Deep attention is for example when a person focus on one task at a time like reading a book.

Hayles gives a good description of hyper and deep attention and the generational divide between hyper attention people and deep attention people. The mindset or the picutre of the mindset helps the reader identify which group they belong to.

Another article"you say multitasking like it's a good thing" by Charles J. Abate. This article tells us that multitasking was "coined in the computer engineering industry. In that context, it denotes the ability of microprocessor(the brain of a computer) to process seceral tasks simultaneously. Ironically, even the paradigmatic use of this term is demonstrably false. Microprocessors, as well as their current programmable cousins, cannot literally perform several tasks simultaneously. They are inherently linear in their operation and can perform only one task at a time" (pg 38). "When I use the term "multitasking I refer to an attempt by individuals to engage in several tasks in rapid linear succession (rather than simultaneously)."

I agree with both articles, first you have to understand the word multitasking/hyper attention to see if it is benefical to young learners. And the Hayles article helps us clarify hyper attention/deep attention as well as telling us the mindset. Now the article by Abate compares the human mind to a computer and tells us the falsehood of multitasking and the harm it will cause our young learners.

It is better to learn one thing at a time and when you a now learning information like the toddlers and preschoolers it is better to focus on the one task at a time. Yes we have made great advances in technology but that still does not or should not replace deep attention or deep learning. Maybe later on in school, like middle schooolers years you can introduce multitasking to that generation but all our children need a solid foundation and multitasking doesnot provide that. As Abate states it is a falsehood.

As an educator I must communicate to the parents of my toddlers or preschoolers that multitasking is not something they should introduce to their child at this particular age. Deep attention is what is benefitial now and the best learning stragedy.

Normally, in schools toddlers and or preschoolers learn a subject for 30 to 45 minutes. For instance they may spend that time learning colors, or numbers and sometimes both but that is not multitasking. When they learn colors or numbers they are related and it is not two completely different things. And they do learn different subjects at different time of the day. They also learn to share during play time and even that is separated. There is the reading center, the block center, art center, and a few other centers depending on the school. But these centers is where the toddler learns to share, communication, negotiate, planning ( to spend a different amount of time in a particular center), and most important independence(learning to solve a problem on their own with out parents). So with these important life skills as an educator I want them to master these skills and once they have mastered these skills they can build on their foundation.

So with the support of my articles and the importance of foundation building, toddlers/preschoolers should not multitask.