Digital Amnesia and its Impact on Learning
In today’s tech-filled world, we’re facing a new challenge: “Digital Amnesia.” Digital amnesia is when we rely so much on our gadgets to remember things, that we are unable to remember it ourselves!
What’s Digital Amnesia?
Digital amnesia is when we forget stuff because we trust our devices to remember for us. Like relying on your phone for numbers or directions and struggling to remember them without it.
Here is an interesting video that further explains digital amnesia:
Examples of Digital Amnesia:
- Forgetting Phone Numbers: Before, we knew lots of phone numbers. Now, many of us can’t remember even one without checking our phones.
- Lost Without Google Maps: Google Maps is great, but it’s also made us bad at finding our way without it. Ever had your phone battery die, and suddenly you’re lost?
- Googling Everything: We’ve gotten used to Googling anything we’re not sure about. “Google it” has become our go-to when we’re unsure.
Why Does It Matter in School?
As teachers, we need to think about how digital amnesia is affecting our students. If they rely too much on their devices, it can make it tough for them to really understand and remember things. This can negatively impact students’ memory skills long-term.
How to Deal with It:
- Use Tech Wisely: Encourage children to balance using their gadgets with old-school learning. Too much screen time isn’t good. Face-to-face talks and real-world activities are important too.
- Get Active in Learning: Make learning hands-on. Discussions, projects, and solving problems help students remember things better than just reading or watching.
- Be Mindful with Tech: Teach children to use tech wisely. It’s a tool, not a replacement for thinking. Let’s not forget how to think just because we have Google!
In the end, we can all agree that the digital world has enormous benefits, but we need to be smart about it. The concept of digital amnesia is a reminder to find a healthy balance. We can use our gadgets to help us, but let’s also keep our own thinking skills sharp…especially our memories! As teachers and parents, we must guide the children in our care to use tech wisely and to remember the important stuff, both on their devices and in their own minds!
