An interesting article from LifeScience highlighting studies equating technology addiction to that of being addicted to drugs. In fact, the article says:
“* Another research paper, published in 2007 in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology by a psychiatrist at Tel Aviv University, recommended that Internet addiction be regarded as an extreme disorder on par with gambling, sex addiction and kleptomania.”
Honestly, I think that anything that becomes addictive and trumps face to face OR relationships with others can be harmful. Relationships with my own family has been strengthened by instant messenger and facebook so one has to be careful interpreting this.
It is important to achieve balance, which is why I teach my own kids to “time themselves” while playing video games.
Self discipline is important to learn (and teach.) Honestly, it is why we SHOULD blog myspace and facebook at school. It is addictive.
Meanwhile, this story is going to make a great question of the week for my student bloggers.
I like how the article ends:
“The first thing to do is take a long, hard look at how you are using technologies, and then to start to set some limits,” he said. “You have to take off a couple hours and make those hours important enough that you don't allow yourself to be interrupted. I think we should have certain rules. We don’t break up, fire people or break traumatic news to people via e-mail or text message.” “
tag: twitter, blog, learning, education, ethics, discipline
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Never miss an episode
Get the 10-minute Teacher Show delivered to your inbox.
3 comments
Wow, I am glad you addressed this issue. I am just now trying to build a good PLN using web 2.0 tools, so I am trying to spend as much time as I can reading, and learning. Perhaps now would be a good time to lay some ground rules for myself.
Currently, I find myself checking twitter many times an evening when I get home from work; mainly to acquire information from the experienced people. When I am able to truly participate I am going to limit myself to a specific number of topics per evening. Once I get a better feel for the time and benefit associated with this act I can make an appropriate adjustment.
My personal blog, which I have yet to begin sharing, is still under construction, so the blogging aspect is a non-issue at this time. My immediate thoughts are to try to post one new post per day. Hopefully this will afford me the time I need for my family and work.
I can definitely see the desire to network being something that could become an addiction to some. My intent, like most I am sure, is to use the vast depth of experience out there to make myself a better educator, and provide my students with the tools to be productive, knowledgeable, adults when they graduate.
After reading this blog and the accompanying article from LifeScience I could not help but reflect on my own technology usage. I do agree with the idea that technology has numerous benefits. I have been able to broaden horizons by helping me stay in contact with my friends in other countries, where calling or visiting them would weigh a lot heavier on my wallet than an e-mail or instant message would. There is no doubt in the bountiful cons technology has provided society, but I also realize the fact that society has become more technologically focused. People find it more convenient and fast to talk via e-mail etc. This causes repercussions such as people always checking their computer for responses, or just carrying on a relationship this way, which to me sometimes seems very impersonal and distant. But, this growing fad may be the cause of this suspicion of “addiction”. There seems to be thin line between reaping the benefits and I guess lack of a better word, “abusing” it.
I recently launched the community driven blog http://outdoorstuffeu.blogspot.com, and would really appreciate your support. If you could be so kind as to mention us in a blog posting (if it’s a blog), I think it would really help us get the word out.
The goal of outdoorstuffeu.blogspot.com is to facilitate open and honest communication between consumers and blog professionals by integrating a number of ‘Web 2.0 ‘ features including:
· Question and Answer Section
· Community Blog
· Interactive Neighborhood Map
· Listings
It’s free for coments , and since the directory is sorted by their level of participation, professionals are incentivized to provide quality insights that any user can benefit from. Please let me know if you would be willing to mention us in your Site
Thanks,
Chris
Comments are closed.