“The brain is now being
hardwired for speed and surface
knowledge, not deep thinking”
“It’s not just genetics, but also our thoughts, experiences and our responses that shape and evolve our brains,
including the overexposure to the world of technology. The human brain is wired differently today, and is under threat
in the modern world. There’s no doubt technology has made lessons more stimulating, interesting and fast paced,
but kids are losing out on sensory and motor skills. While tactile stimulation (touching, hugging, etc) and motor
coordination is under-stimulated in their growing years, there is an overload of visual and auditory systems.
“The constant exposure to multimedia has improved children’s visual-spatial capabilities and the ability to hunt for
and scan information in a jiffy, but it has also resulted in information overload, distraction, a dip in thinking, and
a weaker imagination. Even memory, reasoning and problem solving have, unfortunately, taken a back seat.
“This imbalance is redesigning the neurological development in the brain’s anatomy. The neuron pathways are
becoming permanently damaged. The brain is now being hardwired for speed and surface knowledge, not deep
thinking. This is a wake-up call for all stakeholders.”
Ms Mrinalini Kaura
Director & Founder Principal, Venkateshwar International School, New Delhi
“This is our
opportunity
as educators
to embrace the
positive aspects
of change”
“Yes, technology is rewiring young (and not-so-young)
brains. This is not a new phenomenon; technology has
always profoundly impacted thinking. The difference
today is the sheer pace of change. Student brains are
currently being challenged to respond to more and more
stimuli, at ever-increasing rates, and there is little doubt
that our students think and learn in profoundly different
ways than we did in school. Our opportunity as
educators is to recognise the trends, embrace
the positive aspects of change, and prioritise for
our students the skills and dispositions that might
otherwise be lost amid this reshaping process:
authentic social engagement, creativity and passion,
attention to detail, an aptitude for reflection and
the capacity for joy and wonder.”Mr Corey Stixrud
Principal, Kodaikanal International School, Kodaikanal“Lethargy
of mind has
crept in...”
“Nothing is more dynamic than the human mind. From the Stone Age, we have transformed
ourselves into a civilization that is deeply impacted by gadgets, smart devices and computers,
all of which make life effective and efficient. Credit goes to the human brain that could imagine,
learn, observe, and create.
“But, while arduous chores have vanished, giving us more time, relaxation and ease,
we can’t deny the lethargy of mind that has crept in.
“The increased dependence on Google, GPS, calendar alerts, smart phones,
and calculators have left the human brain delible. One can discern a radical change in our
capabilities of retaining, remembering and, thus, sorting information. I remember my grandfather
savouring the lyrics of classic poems and having the lexicon at his fingertips, metaphorically. He
was from the generation that was blessed with the ‘pre-internet brain’.
“From ignorance of our surroundings and absent-mindedness to the hovering dangers
of critical forgetfulness or early Alzheimer’s, the human brain is gradually losing its intrinsic
abilities.‘Use it or lose it’ stands apt for human brain. In a world engulfed by technology,
the human brain is suffering from sleep disorders, attention and concentration issues, and
deteriorating problem-solving skills.
“The current horrifying news from across the globe of youngsters losing their lives while
posing for selfies is an indication that technology is also gravely impacting individual identities
as more and more of us are displacing the ‘true self’ with an exaggerated, ideal self.
“Technology, implicitly, has transformed the human brain into a shallow thinker, losing
its connect with nature, tradition and self.”Ms Suruchi Gandhi
Principal, Bal Bharati Public School, New Delhi