Multi-tasking: a double-edged sword.
I am really enjoying this topic, it brings out a lot of traits that many of us [ all these generations ] can be proud of, as well as areas we can improve on.
That being said, I feel very strongly that "multi-tasking" is a double-edged sword. Gen Y as well as others tend to pride themselves on this ability. In the tech school I currently teach, the industry I worked in for 20 years, and in doing most tasks of any importance, I find multi-tasking as a bad thing.
WHAT GOOD IS THE ABILITY TO DO MANY THINGS AT ONCE IF NONE OF THEM ARE DONE WELL?!?
Regardless of age/generation/background, we are all human: we can physically&mentally pay attention to only so many things all at once. Gen Y may be able to use current technology to "do homework/complete a task/do research/spend time updating facebook/tweet/read and send e-mails,etc"...but I find all these things are done poorly time and again. When asked to recall "what they just multi-tasked", they DON'T KNOW [ figuring why remember something when I can just google it again? ] Look at the current state of legislation concerning automobile accidents and cellphone use: even with "all our technology" and the ability to multi-task, we can't drive a vehicle well while doing so.
True, everything has it's time and place;I feel that being able to multi-task things of low priority can be a time saver. However,I think we all agree that education isn't a low priority.
Instilling the benefits of being able to focus on something of value [ goals, tasks,anything important ] and not being satisfied with mediocre results should be taught at times to Gen Y.
John,
you are right. And while Gen Y is good at "multi-tasking" in the sense that they like stimuli, research continues to show us that multi-tasking is rather inefficient.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Well said! I agree 100% with your response to multi-tasking.I have found that students that think they are listening to the instructor and looking up information on the internet, are not remembering anything that the instructor said OR what the answer was on the internet. In the world of medicine - students must achieve high results and not just be mediocre. Our lives could depend on them someday:)
Is there any literature on guiding students with effective multi-tasking? Many of the classes I teach are software-centric, so the students have their laptops open. Often they drift off into semi-relivant territory, and too often just off topic distractions, though there are times in class when one of my students uses the Internet to look up something useful to the class.
If I see a student using his/her device during a lecture or demo, I just ask if they are taking notes, looking up something, etc. Sometimes they are doing just that, which is OK, but if not, they immediately put the device away. If I don't ask, I won't know, and they seen to be OK with this.
Instill focus one thing at a time, is very important, along with showing and teaching what standards are. Students from Gen Y can tell you how to do something, but tactical skills are lacking.
Devon,
yes, helping them focus & working through step by step is important.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
