“My Mind is Like My Internet Browser…” Productivity and Presentation
If you’ve ever come across the well-known internet adage –
“My mind is like my web browser: 19 tabs are open, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from.” (Anonymous)
– I’m confident the author was describing me. Regardless, it seemed an apt quotation for our debate questioning the internet as a productive friend or distracting foe.
One of the suggested readings – Online Presentation Creation Tools. (2014) – outlined the merits of Prezi. Despite my dislike for Prezi’s dizzying presentation features, it seemed a suitable representation of the distracting spectacle we once called the World Wide Web.
Points to Ponder Section can be found below the video. Please drop me a line and tell me your take on digital distractions, multitasking, and productivity tips.
Some Resources From the Video
- My Prezi Link
- The Myth of Multitasking (Psychology Today)
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Try the Myth of Multitasking Exercise! (Youtube video)
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Juggling on a high wire: Multitasking effects on performance
- 10 Best Productivity Apps for Students
My Final Thoughts…(for now)
As I watched the assigned video, I was bombarded with texts, emails, browser tabs, and the full digital arsenal of our modern world. Was it distracting? Certainly! Do I often long to disconnect in a far-away wilderness cabin? There’s no doubt. Was I able to multitask in a sea of multitaskers? No, as the term is deceptive. There are no multitaskers, only people who have successfully or distractedly learned to switch their concentrative powers at a fatiguing pace. Despite these electronic hiccups, presentation and productivity tools – like those presented on Tuesday – demonstrate an array of creative and collaborative possibilities. The internet is far more nuanced than simply being our friend or foe, and as educators, it should be our goal to teach students awareness and proper application.
Points to Ponder
- When researching/preparing your blog post, how often were you interrupted by outside digital distractions?
- If you completed the multitasking exercise (in the above-shared youtube link), how did you do? Can you actually multitask?
- If you’ve been teaching for an extended period of time, do you notice increased student distractibility?
- How do you manage your own productivity online? What are your favourite apps/extensions to use for yourself and/or your students?
6 Comments
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Kimberly, thank-you for your post, especially the multitasking test. Holy did it change my mind about my own ability to multitask. It took me almost twice as long and I definitely felt the stress in my body. Even though it was a no stakes activity, I felt the panic rise many times. I wonder if this is why there is a sense of hopelessness sometimes when it comes to the long list of things that we need to do in a day. To get what is expected of us done, we are adding additional stress, multitasking, and in the end, is our list ever actually finished?
Hi Casey,
Yes, it was a shocker for me too. I mean…I knew…..but still, I thought I was managing. Clearly, I am not…..and it’s doubtful anyone else is either! Yes, I felt the panic too and I think we are not alone in this.
A great way of presenting your thoughts, Kim. I appreciate the way you posted the video. I believe, Multitasking can help students check off many items on a to-do list. However, doing two or more tasks at the same time affects their ability to do those tasks well. If a student is switching tasks frequently (i.e. every few minutes), his or her brain has a difficult time refocusing and can tire easily. However, working too long on one task can have the same effect.
Setting a goal and switching tasks when students have reached that goal makes work more productive and helps students’ brains stay on task longer. It’s the happy medium between rapidly going back and forth between tasks and trying to focus on one task for too long.
Hi Gunpreesh,
Thanks for commenting. I appreciate your concept of a happy medium for students….it’s difficult to navigate, but definitely necessary (as you say).
The Multitasking Exercise is fantastic. I am going to use this with my students tomorrow! I completed the first two lines in 20 seconds. (Pretty proud of myself on that one). I completed the 3rd and 4th lines switch tasking and it took me 42 seconds. My husband was also breathing over my shoulder laughing at me so that added additional pressure. I loved at 60 seconds “if your not done now, just give up”. I could tell I felt way more rushed and my stomach was in a knot. I can see now that I am a switch tasker. I like to chip away at things rather than tackling one thing at a time. I do not think I do it to the extent of this exercise, but still a very unique take on the myth of multitasking! I’ve only been teaching for 6 years and student distractibility is through the roof. Any little noise during a quiet work period sends them into a frenzy. (Unless they have headphones in) I could not imagine any of them writing a final exam in one of the U of R gyms. I am happy to admit I was not distracted and stayed on task when writing my original post, but I checked my phone twice while typing this response. Oops.
– Nikki
Hi Nicole,
I’m glad you enjoyed the exercise….it stressed me out! HA HA HA! I’d love to hear how your students did. Mine were shocked….but I can’t say I was surprised. I think we’re all deluding ourselves when we insist we can effectively multitask.