Professor Michael Shayer of King’s College London looked at how 800 secondary pupils performed in problem-solving tests. Today’s 14-year-old pupils are better at quick-fire answers, but much worse at complex questions than teenagers in the 1970s.
The findings reflect that children now live in an environment of text messaging, Wiis and talkback which favours instant responses. There is a culture of learning which favours an instant, superficial way of handling information. But the downside is a “dumbing down”, a lack of care and a lack of deeper understanding.
Comments