Multitasking In Education

Since multitasking is here to stay, there are a couple suggestions on how to be able to manage multitasking and use of technology. One of the ways is to work on a single task before moving on. The reason being, when we are assigned a task, the prefrontal cortex of the brain takes control and assigns different parts of the brain to handle them, (Shao & Shao, 2012,p.77). By being focused on one, we ensure the fact that task will get completed. Think of a To Do List. How many times did it seem like many of the items were not crossed off (ie. completed), but many of them were started and left open? That’s an effect that multitasking can give off. Lots of activity going on, but that does not necessarily equate to productivity. Continuously …show more content…
In a recent study conducted by Common Sense Media (2013) a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide education on children’s use of technology and media, about 72% of American children aged 0 to 8 have used or have access to mobile devices including smartphones and tablets, p. (ppt). These devices are part of the culture they are growing up in which they are bringing into the classroom and eventually the workplace. These same students and eventually workforce workers who state “I can listen to Pandora, check my email and be eating a sandwich at the same time, I can multitask with no problem”. However, it depends on how engaged the brain is. For example, it is easier to check your phone while you’re eating rather than when you’re behind the wheel. Driving requires integration of various brain stimuli such as auditory, visual, need for motor skills and use of the frontal lobe for judgment and decision making, (livestrong website). In other words, driving in itself requires a lot from the brain processes and adding another thinking task (such as reading, typing, and keeping focus off of the road due to response to a text message) can lead to comprised and tragic situations, including death. It seems as if those who take the time to respond to a text message while driving are subject to being …show more content…
In order to deal with it for the time being, it is important that the individual exhibits determination and better self-control skills to stay focused as well as become better with time management in an effort to mitigate time constraints and the need to have to multitask in the first place. However, further studies need to be done to examine the affects that technology continually has on an individual in a society where multitasking becomes increasingly