🙋♂️ More cellphone bans, redefining autism, and why nostalgia shouldn’t be a guide – Of bits and bytes for September 9, 2024
Internet Travels
Of bits and bytes is my weekly round up of interesting links and ideas I discovered on the internet. It is published on Mondays for the previous week
As we kick off the 2024/2025 school year, many schools across North America, including British Columbia, are implementing policies to restrict cell phone use. The change aims to alleviate the mental health issues and classroom distractions linked to constant digital connection and also presents an opportunity to reframe our relationship with technology. I am relentless with turning off notifications to help me deal with my phone, but people don’t believe me when I tell them that I don’t have notifications turned on for texting.
Do you have parents that love your school’s drop-off and pick-up rules? Courtney Minick has the skinny on what the new school year brings to the drop-off/pick-up game. “Remember, when in doubt, simply CIRCLE THE BLOCK”.
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Apps
Google announced at the end of July that dropdown chips in Google Sheets are gaining the ability for multiple selections. The rollout began on August 19 for Rapid Release domains and on September 5 for Scheduled Release domains, so it should be available to all by now.
Pedagogy
Steve Silberman’s book NeuroTribes provides a comprehensive historical examination of autism, revealing societal misconceptions and treatments fraught with errors and tragedy. Silberman critiques the tendency to perceive autism through an outdated lens, burdened by myths like the “refrigerator mother” theory, and emphasizes the need to recognize and accommodate neurodiversity rather than stigmatize it. He argues for shifting research priorities from seeking cures to improving the lives of autistic individuals, acknowledging their historical contributions and ensuring their inclusion in policy-making. Ultimately, Silberman calls for a reevaluation of what constitutes “normal” cognition, advocating for a society that embraces cognitive diversity.
A recent study highlights that playing Dungeons and Dragons can help autistic individuals gain confidence and enhance their social interactions. Conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth, Edge Hill University, and Dalarna University, the study found that autistic participants felt more comfortable and included during gameplay, which helped them navigate social challenges better. Participants noted that the game allowed them to express themselves freely and build kinship, even carrying some of those newfound traits into their daily lives.
Cracked delves into the surprisingly fascinating side of mathematics with their article “34 Times Math Was Actually Interesting.” While this round-up includes unique math facts and trivia, I’m sure there are more than 34 ways that math is interesting.
The article critiques the effectiveness of sentence diagramming in teaching writing, highlighting the nostalgic but misguided belief in its benefits. Through references to historical perspectives and research, it argues that isolated grammar instruction, including sentence diagramming, does not improve students’ writing skills. Instead, the article emphasizes the importance of engaging students in actual writing activities and balanced literacy, suggesting that grammar instruction should be contextual and anchored in students’ real experiences with language.
Technology
A recent study published in Nature Human Behaviour has found that video gaming improves mental well-being. Conducted in Japan, the research revealed that owning a Nintendo Switch improved mental health by 0.60 standard deviations and a PlayStation 5 by 0.12 standard deviations. The study, led by Hiroyuki Egami of Nihon University, used data from console lotteries during COVID-19 to establish a causal link between gaming and improved mental health.
Grace Hopper’s legendary 1982 lecture, “Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software, and People,” is now available on YouTube. Known for her pioneering work in programming and development of COBOL, Hopper’s insights covered the protection of future information and the evolution of technology. The National Archives and Records Administration successfully digitized the previously unavailable footage from obsolete media formats and released it in two parts.
Tips
ChromeOS 129, the operating system used on Chromebooks, is bringing look to the overview mode. Though the functionality remains largely the same, the look and feel are getting a significant facelift with new borders, rounded aesthetics, and a more Material You style.
Pop Culture
A recent Pew Research Center survey found that both parents and teens believe it’s harder to be a teenager today than it was 20 years ago, particularly due to the influence of technology and social media. While technology is seen as a major stressor, causing increased pressure to fit in and maintain certain appearances, some respondents also acknowledged its benefits, like easier access to information. Nonetheless, parents often emphasize social media’s negative impact more than teens, who instead highlight the excessive pressures and expectations placed on them today.
Recent research has revealed the serious impact of workplace rudeness, showing that even mild instances can significantly impair employees’ performance and team dynamics, particularly in critical fields like healthcare. Teams exposed to rudeness exhibited reduced cooperation, communication, and problem-sharing, leading to poorer outcomes and even life-threatening results in medical settings. Researchers recommend that organizations implement training focused on resilience and mindfulness to better prepare employees for handling such situations.
Potpourri
- Dynamicland intro – Sometimes you come across an idea that is very much outside your realm of understanding. This is one of those ideas. Dynamic land is a way for people in the real world to explore ideas together using words, pictures, and computation.
Thank you!
Major props if you’ve made it this far, you are a rockstar! Feel free to contact me with questions, ideas, concerns, or your thoughts on the next Marvel movie. In fact, I love to discuss about any topic and then wonder how it intersects with education, so fire away!
“Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, but Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” – Oogway, Kung Fu Panda
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