This NPR interview involving a PEW researcher and a librarian consider the reading habits of adolescents. The article proposes that teens are reading less for fun. The one data point I found noted that between 2011 and 2013 there has been a decline in the proportion of teens who claim to read a book for fun. The participants admit that as there are so many ways to read it is difficult to know if there has been a decline in reading in all forms.
We were looking for something unique to view over the weekend and we found it in the Blue Springs Manatee Festival. Hundreds of manatees in the stream below the springs because of the cold weather (for Florida). Lots to see.
For more including the manatee cam, the park hosts a web site save the manatee. More of our pictures.
I just used screen time and obesity in my intro psych class as an example of correlational research. Cause and effect can be tricky.
Today the NY Times has a piece on screen time and the type of content that is viewed. The summary seems to be that as elementary-aged children spend more time viewing television, a lower proportion of the time involves “educationally beneficial” content. Perhaps an important related question is how much “educational content” is available. Still, if the proportion shifts because there are few productive options, parents should know that this is the case.
Is the Internet making us stupid (with apologies to Nicholas Carr). This article from the Atlantic offers data on the reading of books. It reports that 23% did not read a book in any format (hard copy or ebook) last year. Reading books is related to education and if there is a positive in the analysis it is that there seems to be little recent decline in the reading of those leaving college. I guess that is supposed to be a positive.
Here is a study from the Chronicle of Higher Education indicating the number of students who presently take online courses.
I have read Friedman’s books on the flat world and buy the concept. He argues education is part of the problem/solution. I agree. He has a new comment on the position he would like the President to take on education. Many have already criticized, but I think it is important for all to at least review. I expect all will find something to support and oppose.
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