Screened Schooled

 

    Screen Schooled is a book written by Joe Clement and Matt Miles. They are school teachers with over thirty years of experience. This book tells us about the detrimental effects of technology overuse among school aged children. By comparing research from the past few years, the authors tell how technology is effecting millennials in academics, social life, relationships, critical thinking skills, focus and overall mental health of millennials. They also discuss the financial costs that new technology may have on schools. Their goal is to question the the claims made by corporate tech companies regarding the role of technology in education and show what's really happening in our classrooms.

My review:

     Screen Schooled is narrated in a conversational voice and uses illustrations that are completely relatable to almost anyone. The authors use real life examples that help us get a better glimpse of how and why technology overusers are the way they are.
     One of the chapters explains how technology overuse effects critical thinking. I thought this was interesting because many people say that the younger generations are dumber. In an increasing number of cases, this is becoming true. One of the reasons lies in the fact that kids don't play without technology anymore. Instead of playing with toys or using their imaginations for fun, they use electronics. The authors proposed the idea that such early childhood play may be important for developing critical thinking in children. They also mentioned how students turn on their phones the minute classes end and rarely allow themselves to hear their own thoughts. They constantly must listen or do something on their phones instead of using free moments to think.
     Another chapter talked about focus. Researchers are introducing the idea that technology overuse is hurting our kids' focus. Part of it is due to so called "multitasking." Although the authors do not claim that multitasking is bad, they indeed reference the idea that the extent in which we do it could be problematic. We have a need to multitask constantly all the time. We multitask while doing school work, doing chores, using the toilet, taking a shower, and at this point, while doing everything. Lightly multitasking here and there is okay. But heavily multitasking constantly all the time ruins focus because are brains try to adjust. Our brains really can't focus on two things at once like we try to make it do. In reality, multitasking not only prohibits us from concentrating on one thing, but it also slows us down in both activities.
     Screen Schooled is a must read for all adults. The best part of the book is the fact that it brings out that adults too must watch our technology use. As a matter of fact, I feel focused already just by reading this book. It even inspired me to write my previous post, "Why You Should Read Nonfiction Books." What do you think of Screen Schooled? Let me know in a comment below.