Reader's Response
Are we too independent in Technology?
As I read the article, I thought about how much I’ve become dependent on technology. I agree with the author because I’ve noticed the same thing happening to me. I used to do things on my own, like math in my head or remembering directions. But now, I always reach for my phone to help me with simple things, like adding numbers or finding my way.When I was younger, I was proud of how well I could do mental math. I had my times tables memorized and could solve problems without thinking twice. But as I got older, I started using my phone more and more. Now, if someone asks me a simple question like “What’s 74 + 113?” my first instinct is to grab my phone. It’s not that I can’t do the math; I just don’t trust myself to do it without a calculator anymore. I’ve become lazy, and the ability I once had seems to have disappeared. I also remember when I didn’t need a GPS to get places. I could remember routes, but now I always rely on my phone to tell me where to go. I’ve noticed that I don’t really think about the streets around me anymore. It’s like I’ve stopped using my brain for navigation, and I’m just letting my phone do the work for me. Reading about London taxi drivers made me think about this even more. They have to memorize hundreds of streets and routes to pass a test. Their brains are very good at remembering, but when we use technology for everything, we stop using that part of our brain. I’ve felt that myself. When I rely on my phone, my memory doesn’t get used as much, and it’s harder to remember things without help. The article talks about how technology can be helpful, but it also makes us forget things. I’ve seen this in my own life too. I’ve forgotten simple things I used to remember easily. It’s like my memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be because I don’t have to think for myself as much. I realize now that I need to try harder to do things without depending on technology. I’m starting with small things, like trying to do math in my head again or finding my way somewhere without looking at my phone. It’s hard at first, but I hope it helps me get back some of the brainpower I’ve lost. Technology is useful, but I don’t want to forget how to think for myself. I want to keep my mind sharp and not let it “switch off” just because I have a phone that can do everything for me. I think it’s important to use technology wisely and not let it take over everything we do.
Face-to-face or face-to-screen? Undergraduates' opinions and test performance in classroom vs. online learning
In my experience with blended learning, I found that there was a big difference between online and face-to-face classes. While the study mentioned that academic performance didn't change much, for me, it became a little difficult when we had to do things online. I struggled with the slower pace of online discussions, as I had to wait for responses from others, and it often felt less engaging compared to in-person conversations. I personally preferred face-to-face classes, especially when we could discuss topics right away and get immediate feedback. On the other hand, I did appreciate the flexibility of online learning for tasks like written exercises, where I could work on them at my own pace. But overall, the lack of interaction and the difficulty in staying engaged made online learning a bit more challenging for me. It’s clear from my experience that while both methods have their benefits, I feel that face-to-face classes are more effective for my learning, especially when it comes to collaboration and staying engaged with the material.
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