This lectorial prompted to me think about my future and ultimately goals I want to achieve. We were told to write 10 things to write to our ‘future self’, so.
Dear future self: By the end of my course I want to..
- Become as comfortable with Mac programming as I am with Windows
- Learn to how to Mac video editing software e.g. iMovie and Final Cut Pro
- Be an intern/get work experience at really cool place
- Work on at least some kind of short film/film project
- Join in co-curricular activites
- Finalise my career goals
- Have some hi-tech equipment
- Travel somewhere
- Network with people in the industry
- Make a whole of new friends
We also read ‘Hyper and Deep attention: The generational divide in cognitive modes’ by N. Katherine Hayles, which discussed the change in how young people are learning and reacting to stimuli. Hyper attention is referred to people who have a short attention span and need to have constant stimulation in order to process information. Deep attention refers to being able to process information by focusing on a single thing, and remained focused over a long period of time. I thought about this and at first I thought to myself, ‘hey you know what I can read books for a long time, I’m totally deep attention’, but the more I thought about the more I realised I truly learn best with multiple stimulis. For example, I listen to music whilst I read, whilst I study, I even used to listen to music when I slept! (I know, very bad). I also find myself keeping at least 2 seperate windows open on my computer so that I can watch films/videos whilst I scan through various webpages.
It can be seen that due to the fast development in technology, children are learning to focus on multiple stimuli from a young age. This then leads us to the question of who should change, people or the method of teaching. I believe the clear answers is that learning should be adapted in order to allow for hyper attention style learning. However, I don’ think this change of teaching/learning style will make its way into the education system until years to come. This is as the generation that teaches us now remains as ‘deep attention’ learners, it seems that only when the younger generation of hyper attention learners grow older and into teaching places can this be changed. The danger that poses threat however is that will our cognitive modes switch due to being taught through deep attention method? Hopefully not.