Electronics and the College Student

 

Electronic devices are now ubiquitous among college students. Potentially, they have great educational power. So much knowledge lies at your fingertips. BUT...they are also dangerously seductive and addictive. Some of the smartest engineers today spend their days figuring out ways to tempt you online and keep you there. Here are some recent articles about studies that show how to get the most out of your education while getting the most out of your electronic devices.

 

Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
Engaging the fine motor system to produce letters by hand has positive effects on learning and memory

 

Reading print improves comprehension far more than looking at digital text, say researchers
A study from the University of Valencia found that print reading could boost skills by six to eight times more than digital reading

 

Multitasking — Yes or No? How to Master the Art of Multitasking
In this article, we’ll look deeper at one of the most controversial 21st-century skills and find out how to reap all the benefits it has to offer.

 

Media Multitasking Disrupts Memory, Even in Young Adults
Simultaneous TV, texting and Instagram lead to memory-sapping attention lapses.

 

"Our minds can be hijacked": the tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopia
Google, Twitter and Facebook workers who helped make technology so addictive are disconnecting themselves from the internet: Silicon Valley refuseniks who are alarmed by a race for human attention.

 

For better learning in college lectures, lay down the laptop and pick up a pen
When college students use computers or tablets during lecture, they learn less and earn worse grades.

 

The Farther Away Your Smartphone Is, the Smarter You Are
The mere presence of your smartphone causes your test results to drop.

 

Don't Look Now! How Your Devices Hurt Your Productivity
With tips about how to get important things done.

 

Attention, Students: Put Your Laptops Away
How writing notes longhand means better understanding and retention.

 

Handwriting vs typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
Computers may dominate our lives, but mastery of penmanship brings us important cognitive benefits, research suggests.

 

In A Digital Chapter, Paper Notebooks Are As Relevant As Ever
Why Silicon Valley techies use Moleskines instead of tablets for taking notes.

 

Why Startups Love Moleskines
The Silicon Valley love affair with Moleskine notebooks.

 

How Does Multitasking Change the Way Kids Learn?
Why “;multitasking” is just a synonym for ”distraction.“

 

The Stanford Professor Who Researched Multitasking
More about the brain and multitasking.

 

Why The Brain Prefers Paper
Even in the digital age, reading on paper has its advantages. From Scientific American