I figured I would just share another perspective in that conversation. I certainly feel uncomfortable taking my phone out when I’m in some group situations where I am supposed to be “present.” I also struggle with distraction, but these are all things that we have to figure out as a society in this digital age.

I don’t know if I framed what the real issue is well enough. Perhaps this is less of a brain science issue and more of a digital citizenship issue. I the need for breaks. I get the industrial age model we have at school and in our offices.

Cathy says:
“And I think that’s what happens 15 years into any new technology. You have a tension because you’re in a transitional time where there’s still certain structures, preferences, appetites, habits, tendencies, that were all cultivated by the institutions of one era, and that there’s a mismatch between those in the institutions and the new forms of attention of a new era.”

Yes. I see that we are at the cusp of change at schools. I am excited about it.

But while we are here, trying to make learning as engaging, creative, active and as self-directed as we can, can’t we have conversations about when some focus on each other, our groups, our projects is a good thing?

Have you read Cathy Davidson’s book “Now You See It”? I think it might really shed more light on your thinking and perhaps bring a slightly different viewpoint about attention and teaching students. She argues that perhaps multitasking is not all that bad and that in fact “the kids are alright.” Her argument is that our institutions and business practices are setup for the 20th century when in fact we are now living in a very different hyper-networked world. It might be worth adding that perspective to the conversation and it is definitely a book I would recommend to all librarians.