The Technology Balance


This past month, I happily organized a 'Team Building' unit with various ages of students at a middle school. Team building structured activities or 'Adventure Activities', when delivered by practitioners comfortable with delivery and reflection, have proven year after year a highlight for students, leading to extremely powerful possibilities to transfer the experience beyond the activity.

Something was different this year...



As the students joyfully navigated through a challenge (working to a particular goal such as weaving through a web of rope or moving the group to a large mat on the floor) I noticed an increased air of impusivity and extreme lack of patience compared to any of the years past. Keeping the variables in mind; such as an off day, time of the day, group size, transitions, and delivery, I then recorded the specific behaviours in a journal on different days with the various grades. The simple summary below notes the differences of students in 2011 performing a group task compared to a group performing the same task ten years ago.

From the field journal:

During my graduate research I ran into the term of Limbic Resonance. Dr. Hillary Cash defines it simply as: "the energetic exchange that happens between two people who are interacting in a caring and safe relationship" where there is a "release of certain neurochemicals in the limbic region of the brain. These chemicals are necessary for full emotional and physical well-being".

The burgoning field of brain science is undertaking rigorous studies to further examine any effects of our increase in digital communication. Best decribed in the PBS documentary Digital Nation
Curious for what this holds for future problem solving skills, authentic communication and clear thinking?
The unremarkable answer is an intentional balance as we evolve.

And evolving we are:


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