Technology's Negative Influence on Education
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Critical Thinking

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This is you, technology. It should not be.
         In my research, I have found out that technology has a large effect on the minds our society. In the Science Daily,  Professor Patricia Greenfield,of UCLA who specializes in psychology and did an intense study of the effects of technology on our minds, was referenced to in an author's search to find out if technology is producing a decline in critical thinking and analysis. Greenfield illustrates that she is very knowledgeable on the subject by making the claim that, "As technology has played a bigger role in our lives, our skills in critical thinking and analysis have declined, while our visual skills have improved" (ScienceDaily). In her research, she discovered that technology has actually altered the way we learn because of its visual effects and entertainment; Greenfield says, "Learners have changed as a result of their exposure to technology who analyzed more than 50 studies on learning and technology, including research on multi-tasking and the use of computers, the Internet and video games" (ScienceDaily). Obviously, Greenfield did intensive research to make these claims and her research also led to her learning some ways learners can stop this decline of critical thinking. The first remedy she addresses is reading. Greenfield points put out that, "Reading for pleasure enhances thinking and engages the imagination in a way that visual media such as video games and television do not" (ScienceDaily). Personally, I recognize this to be true within my family; for instance, I read what interests me and therefore have a broad imagination but my younger brother is totally opposite. My brother hates reading but loves playing video games and watching and television and the difference is evident in his critical thinking abilities every day.        
        Furthermore, Greenfield continued to name different ways this loss of critical thinking can be saved. For instance, to cooperate with technology since it is obviously a permanent part of our society and mold school a little more to visual learning. As I mentioned earlier, technology enhances visually learning so it could do good if tests where given visually just like they are studied by the majority and "doing more PowerPoint presentations for notes" (ScienceDaily). Most importantly, parents can encourage students to read more and also read to their young. Reading is important because "reading for pleasure is the key to developing skills such as imagination, induction, reflection, vocabulary, and critical thinking (ScienceDaily).