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.

Blog 14a Hypertexting

I think this is what I am suppose to write about for this blog. I will use the outline format for my hypertext project.

Blog 15 Wiki update

OK so now I am having fun with my wiki post. The last time I wrote or edited the wiki page they took me down immediately. I wrote using the name missysmith300. So over the weekend I want to post something that would sound reliable. I tried getting back on missysmith300 but I forgot my password. So I created a new name missysmith181 and I edited the Human Multitasking page and I used my article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_multitasking. My Edit starts with "The term miltitasking". And the post has not been taken down. I feel real good. I checked it when I woke up this morning and still it is up their. I choose this page because I don't believe humans can do multitasking and the article I attained supports my feeling.

When I first edited a page it was bad. I did not sound like I knew what I was talking about and I did not list an reference point. But this last time I looked at what was writing above where I would write and I followed the same tone (because that was my opinion also). But I think that if I did not use or reference the article they would have taken me down. The article showed authenticity and a reliable source. I guess this topic is fun at least as long as my edit stays up I enjoyed using wiki.

Blog 14

Revised Research Plan

1)Statement of Purpose:
Should Toddlers Multitask?
In doing my research some parents see multitasking as a benefit for their toddlers, but also their are some research that feel our" brains are linear and incapable of perform two seprate tasks simutaneously"(from article "You say multitasking like it's a good thing" by Charles J. Abate).

Then you have an article by Katherine Hayles "Hyper and Deep Attention: The Generational Divide in Cognitive Modes" and this article talks about Hyper and Deep Attention and the mindsets that support each function.

I will also supply websites that support or does not support each point whether multitasking, hyper/deep attention.

2)Detailed statement of your resesrch question:
I want to research Should toodlers multitask and if they do is it modeling or ture multitasking. And with the influence of the digital element in our lives, why are we talking more about multitasking/hyper attention versus deep attention?

3)List of information I gathered:

"Hyper and Deep Attention: The Generational Divide in Cognitive model", article by Katherine Hayles.

"You say multitasking like it's a good thing" by Charles J. Abate.

www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/EJournals/volu

www.kidscreen.com/articles/magazine/20070401/tasking.html

www.parentdish.com/2009/03/18/multitasking-is-not-alll-bad/



4)A preliminary list of surces:
That was the previous list.


5)A plan for gathering your information:
Most of the website think multitasking is a benefit. I will use the two articles and reference them more than the websites because the articles are from my mindset which is a toddler should focus on one thing at a time.


I hope this question is a strong one (Should Toddlers Multitask?)

Blog 13

My users for my website will be teachers, and parents.


Using the grids on pg 83
-I want to give a defination of Multitasking, Hyper Attention, Deep Attention, Tell the difference between ADHD.

Then with the TEACHERS (the group I am using as example) do
-benefits of multitasking and how effect learning
-disadvantages of multitasking and learning process


They can access information by reading outline. And I will use the outlined/ spoked that is on page 73-74 in "designing Websites".

I am still working out the process. If anyone have helpful information, I would welcome it.

Blog 12

So like I was saying about Hyper Attention/ Deep Attention/ Multitasking in blog 11, that it is so new most people don't even see it as a real thing. There is a lot of information on wikipedia about ADHD but that is Hyper Activity which has lead to the difficulty of a person to not focus. With Hyper Attention is like multitasking which is focusing on many things at once. Deep Attention is focusing on one thing at once. The question is not focusing (ADHD) but on how you focus and which way of focusing is best. And how you focus has to do with your mindset( more information when we do our presentation).


So with all this being said my wikipedia article was taken down before I left class and everyday after. I put it on and they take it down. I use articles and they take it down. And I think they take it down because the think it is ADHD.

So I will keep trying but I know they will just take it down.

Blog 11

After reading the first 3 chapters in the book, I went and looked at some educational sites. Then I went and looked at some school sites both were for readers and I am looking for a user friendly site. I am still looking but I have not found a site that I would like to include on my blog.



Audience
My audience will be for both parents and educators. These two groups would benefit with my research on Hyper Attention/ Deep Attention / Multitasking in preschoolers. With these two groups I need to have a balance of reading and using on my site. I don't want to bore them because they will loose interest. And I don't want my site to be just completely "user" then I would loose the importance of the material.


Purpose
The purpose of this site is to inform and educate anyone especially educators and parents on the effects ,if any, of Hyper Attention/ Deep Attention/ Multitasking have on our preschoolers. I will include what those three words mean, the mindsite behind each word, and the benefit or disadvantages.


Focus
Will be the preschooler and which of the three connects to a stronger learner and which of these is a distraction. Most parents don't even know Hyper Attention exist ( and that will be discussed furthet in blog 12). Everyone knows about multitasking but for older children and adults. So it would be interesting (for me at least) to research this HyperAttention/Deep Attention/ Multitasking in preschoolers.