Too Much Screen Time Hurts Teens’ Grades
A not-surprising finding from a recent study of teenagers has revealed that extra screen time hurts their grades. Specifically, one hour extra each day in front of a screen resulted in a two-grade decline (about 10 points) on exams and two extra hours produced an even greater drop in grades. Usually these studies don’t allow […]
Read MoreIs Coding Camp a Good Thing? Answer: Not to Me
One of the booming trends in the ‘youth-achievement-industrial complex’ is computer coding camps (and after-school coding programs). Here is an article in which I was interviewed that discusses this new, and to me, troubling development. I think this trend is driven by two unhealthy forces. First, economic uncertainty that has created immense anxiety in parents for their children’s futures. […]
Read MoreKids Do Better in School Without Smartphones
Here’s an interesting article describing research that should come as no surprise to anyone. Students do better in school when smartphones are banned. The distraction and the opportunity costs (time spent on smartphones is time not spent studying or paying attention in class) are obvious.
Read MoreTaking Notes by Hand is Better Than on a Laptop
As anyone who has been either a student or teacher in class recently, there is a steady movement away from taking handwritten notes and toward note taking on a laptop computer. This shift seems quite natural given how technology is being used more often in every facet of our lives. But you may take pause of […]
Read MoreFour Steps to Making Corporate Change an Opportunity Not a Threat
In a post from a few years ago titled Why Corporate Change is Difficult, But Possible, I described the obstacles to and steps needed to produce positive and long-lasting change in both individuals and companies. This concern continues to be at the forefront of business leaders’ minds because the corporate world is in a constant […]
Read MoreDo You Spend Too Much Time on Your Smartphone?
A slightly unsettling, article about new apps to help people track and monitor their smartphone use. Isn’t it ironic to spend time on your smartphone to learn how much time you spend on your smartphone. But I digress. Knowing how much time you spend on your smartphone, particularly for personal as opposed to work use, […]
Read MoreIs E-Reading to Your Children Reading or Screen Time?
If you have young children , the seduction of e-readers, tablets, and smartphones to distract, placate, or assuage them is strong. The tech industry has been selling the idea that early exposure to technology will benefit children educationally. A big push has been encouraging parents to use e-readers rather than books when reading to them. […]
Read MoreThe Digital World is Full of Possibility and Worry
The Huffington Post recently asked me to write a blog post on the influence of technology on the lives of children, parents, and families in connection with the new film Men, Women and Children. The request inspired me to put my ideas on (digital) paper wearing both my professional and personal hats. I come to […]
Read MoreTech Savvy Doesn’t Mean Tech Skilled
Parents getting their children involved in technology as early as possible has become a societal imperative and a source of great pressure on parents these days. The belief is that if children don’t get on the technology train at an early age, they will be left behind and be doomed to a life of Luddite failure. […]
Read MoreSteve Jobs was a Low-Tech Parent
I was absolutely shocked when I read this article describing how the late Steve Jobs, despite being the King of 21st century technology, was a low-tech parent, meaning that he didn’t allow his children frequent access to the very devices he designed that has changed our world. In fact, as the article also echoed, I […]
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