How do we avoid the costs of pervasive digital environment in the classroom in the presence of adaptive and instructional technology?

The introduction and dominance of technology in our lives has resulted in continuous, but partial thinking.  Technology has made information more readily available and accessible, but this constant input of information can create unforeseen difficulties in processing and in using that information.  Those that use and rely on technology for communication or for information often skim and scam information without actually allowing themselves the chance to fully process or understand the information they are being exposed to.  For us as educators this implies that when using technology, our work and the work we ask of students need to be supplemented with assessments or tasks that require deeper thinking. 

Without continuing to provide opportunities for deep thinking, we run the risk of losing the ability to be fully engaged and focused on one topic or task.  Students need to be asked to build upon prior knowledge using information from multiple sources.  Students should also be provided an opportunity to work together and to discuss the information that they find so that they do not miss out on social connections and can practice the skills of discussion and collaboration.  As Louis CK joked about on Conan O'Brien, people tend to be more concerned with sharing information than in living their lives.  As educators we need to provide opportunities for students enjoy living in the moment of learning.  It is more important than ever to find ways to engage student in topics or information.  Technology can enhance the ways in which we are exposed to information, but cannot replace deep reading, thinking and intense debate and discussion.  We need to give ourselves and our students opportunities to focus on information and topics so that information isn't entering and leaving our stream of consciousness too quickly, as we saw in the Economist video.  

Although technology will help us to find new and interesting ways to provide access to content and allow students to practice and demonstrate their skills, we do need ensure that we are not allowing technology to become overly dominant at the expense of allowing students to really explore and engage in material in depth. We have to remember that technology requires explicit instruction and that student use of technology should be guided and monitored.  We have to make sure that students are not using or seeing technology as a short cut to the end product, but as a way to enhance their knowledge and understanding.