Comments on: Multitasking http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/2009/08/25/multitasking-3/ learning, networks, knowledge, technology, community Sat, 4 Feb 2012 22:56:23 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: JT http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/2009/08/25/multitasking-3/comment-page-1/#comment-25680 JT Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:13:57 +0000 http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/?p=4234#comment-25680 There is no such thing as multitasking (other than breathing, seeing, walking, and chewing gum simultaneously) when doing higher level tasks such as learning. What students do is more closely related to multiplexing. Multiplexing, or more correctly, Time Division Multiplexing, is a communications technology where multiple circuits are served in turn for very short periods of time. Data is not transmitted or received simultaneously. Data from one circuit is transmitted or received for short time slice, then the next circuit is served, and the next, etc. This is what students do today. The result is surface level thinking as opposed to deep thought. There is no such thing as multitasking (other than breathing, seeing, walking, and chewing gum simultaneously) when doing higher level tasks such as learning. What students do is more closely related to multiplexing. Multiplexing, or more correctly, Time Division Multiplexing, is a communications technology where multiple circuits are served in turn for very short periods of time. Data is not transmitted or received simultaneously. Data from one circuit is transmitted or received for short time slice, then the next circuit is served, and the next, etc. This is what students do today. The result is surface level thinking as opposed to deep thought.

]]> By: gsiemens http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/2009/08/25/multitasking-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23515 gsiemens Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:28:54 +0000 http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/?p=4234#comment-23515 Tom - the report listed does provide a similar distinction to what you list (higher/lower order)...but they use the distinction to refer not to level of thought but rather to degree of multitasking. As well, the report supports your comment - i.e. multitasking research almost always produces "bad" results. Attention requires a shift in focus. When we pay attention to several elements at once, something is lost in understanding. Tom – the report listed does provide a similar distinction to what you list (higher/lower order)…but they use the distinction to refer not to level of thought but rather to degree of multitasking. As well, the report supports your comment – i.e. multitasking research almost always produces “bad” results. Attention requires a shift in focus. When we pay attention to several elements at once, something is lost in understanding.

]]> By: Ruth Elliott http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/2009/08/25/multitasking-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23484 Ruth Elliott Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:17:58 +0000 http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/?p=4234#comment-23484 What do you think of "continuous partial attention" which some people (like danah boyd or Mack Male) seem to be able to give to more than one task at a time? Is this the same as multi-tasking or something different? Is this a generational thing? What do you think of “continuous partial attention” which some people (like danah boyd or Mack Male) seem to be able to give to more than one task at a time? Is this the same as multi-tasking or something different? Is this a generational thing?

]]> By: Tom Whyte http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/2009/08/25/multitasking-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23476 Tom Whyte Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:13:51 +0000 http://www.elearnspace.org/blog/?p=4234#comment-23476 Then I guess, breathing, thinking, seeing, walking and talking makes us all multitaskers. However, there are higher order thinking, and lower order functions. I can have the TV on while working on the computer, but am I really watching TV... I think not. I have tried to have students form comprehensible txt's while doing other higher order thinking in class at the same time (not switching) and the results are always bad... Just thought I would add my two cents... Then I guess, breathing, thinking, seeing, walking and talking makes us all multitaskers. However, there are higher order thinking, and lower order functions. I can have the TV on while working on the computer, but am I really watching TV… I think not. I have tried to have students form comprehensible txt’s while doing other higher order thinking in class at the same time (not switching) and the results are always bad…

Just thought I would add my two cents…

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