Research Paper On

Technology Is Diminishing Students Creativity and Ability to Think Reasonably

Submitted to:

Farrah Jebin ENG 204 (Savar Campus)

Submitted By:

Md. Nafis Hasan Siddique 11201002

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

Abstract: Technology is one of the blessings of modern science. It helps us to develop ourselves. This paper intends to research on the issue that if technology is diminishing students creativity and ability to think critically. I would try to find if people are aware about this issue and are they conscious about the harmful effect of using technology too much. I would also try to find the alternative and effective way to use technology for the students betterment. Everyone are using technology and encouraging other to do so but using it without any limit is harming us a lot. This paper would look upon these issues and would try to give some solution and address the problems. The research is important to understand and know the answer of these entire questions. Therefore, I request to allow me conduct a research upon this topic. Keyword: Technology, Diminishing, Creativity, Student, Reasonable. Introduction: Is technology a curse or a blessing? Is it helping us or is it harming us? The answer of this question is very complicated. We are living in the age of modern science. We are surrounded by technology and we cannot think of a single day without technology. On the other hand technology is harming us in many ways and one of the main victims of the harmful effect of technology is students. They became so much dependent on technology that they are losing their ability to think reasonably and their creativity to make something new or to make something by themselves. However we can overcome this problem if we become aware and give importance on study and use technology in a disciplinary way. This multi-tasking nature of students due to technology is taking them away from reality to a virtual life. They remain so much addicted with technology that they forget about the present world and for this they cannot concentrate on present work. Hence, to overcome this, students should use technology as a helping hand not to be dependent on it, do not waste money on unnecessary and expensive technological devices and try to get out of this addiction and learn something about religious education. Background study: Our country is developing day by day and the level of education and the quality is also increasing frequently. We now live in the age of modern science and we are surrounded by modern technology. Few years back one incident happened with me that showed me that we are developing but this development is also harming us. I have a cousin who is only 7 years old and

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

he is a student of primary school. He asked for a video games and his father bought him a video game. He used to play that games whole day, his main concentration and thought was related to games and all those technological stuff. He was away from his study and we could not control his addiction toward the games. Another incident that I witness few months ago is about one of my friends. He was a good student and after getting admitted in a renowned university he bought new computer, cell phone and other gadgets. He became so much obsessed with the technology that he could not concentrate on his study and using this technology, doing multi-tasking and looking in those screen all the time made him dull. His creativity and efficiency that we used to see previously were gone. He was obsessed with technology and all the time he wanted to use technology to do his work such as assignment and home work. He used to copy all the assignment and other work from internet and depend most of the time on technology. His thoughts were also confined in technology, he could not think in a reasonable way. Therefore this made me think that this is a true fact that at present students of our country and also worldwide all the students are in danger as these technologies is diminishing students creativity and ability to think reasonably. This is the reason that made me do this research. The area of research: The research is mainly aimed at creating awareness regarding the increased addiction of technology and the harmful effect it creates. Therefore, the major area of my research work mainly involves the students, teachers, guardians, technology experts and all those people who think for the betterment of our society and world. Literature Review: According to different research and experiment on different people scientist have found that using technology is helping people such as students, kids and adults a very little. It is harming them a lot by different ways. It may lead them to relegate of their skills and ability. On the other hand the proper use of technology and also reading material help students to be more attentive and increase their ability to hold information inside their brain for longer period. Other studies showed that a student cannot fully concentrate in getting information if they are doing multitasking. The more they spent time with technology the more they get addicted with it. They become so much addicted that they live in a virtual world surrounded by technology and get lost in that world. Although the addiction depends on the user, if the user use it in a manner way then

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

they will not get the addiction. Different studies and statistic shows that technology is good unless it is used excessively. Research Questions: While doing this research, I had several question and I tried to find the answer. The question beings: i) If the people and the students understand the adverse effect of the technology then would they stop or less use the technology for their own betterment? ii) Can the use and dependency on technology can be reduced by the students and what can be the alternative option of students education? iii) Is technology essential for the improvement of the students?

Research hypothesis: According to my research questions and the research hypothesis that came up are: i. Students will understand the adverse effect of the technology but it will only aware them. They are so much dependent on technology that they will not completely stop or use the technology for their own betterment. ii. Dependency on technology can be reduced by the students but they have to have alternative option such as using books, use their own creativity and be less dependent on technology and more dependent on themselves. iii. Technology is essential for the improvement of the students because now we are in 21st century were technology is most needed thing for development and it helps students to be more advance and developed person. Research Method: Research methods were both primary and secondary methods. Primary methods were interview done with three categories of people with some sets of question and the secondary research was the articles and books based research where other previously did research on similar issue. Questionnaire The following questions been asked to various categories of people through detailed interview process. These people are mainly the teacher, students, the experts of technology and the common people who seem to be the major victim of this problem. The questions being: a) Is technology a curse or a gift?

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

b)

Do you agree or disagree with the statement that, technology is diminishing students

creativity and ability to think reasonably? Explain your answer. c) d) e) f) What are the effects of technology on students? Is technology helping or hampering in your personal life? Does technology help the students or not necessary for them? What do you understand or know about technology?

Data Analysis: In the terms of data collection I had to do interviews with some people. These people can be divided into three categories, one is the expert, other is the victim and the last one is the general people. My expert was a professor of Computer Science and Engineering in Dhaka University and according to him technology is a gift and also a curse. Technology helps people to be developed and to be connected with other. It also opens the door to a new world where information is more available and easy to access. According to him technology is to some extent diminishing the creativity of the students and ability to think reasonably. It also hampering the development as the youth of our age is now more focusing on social network and other entertainment site so they remain busy in their fun and enjoyment and give less time in their study. Another problem is that due to vast flow of information there is a tendency of copy past in their homework and assignment. This also increases the tendency of plagiarism in their academic work. This reflects a harmful effect on students as they lose their different skills and get dependent on technology and also loses their creativity. Another interview was done with the victim, the students and in my case he is a student of IUT in Mechanical Engineering. We all know that the main user of technology and according to them technology is a curse. It helps them all the time and helps them to be connected with everyone and make their daily life easier. They use technology and they are also aware of it effect but they believe that technology is more helpful then harmful. Lastly I have interviewed a private service holder who works in a NGO and she falls under the category of general people. She believes that technology is much needed for present world. It helps a student to be developed and open the window for the student to know the world. It also helps the student to learn new things about the world and be updated all the time. However, she quoted that technology is not good all the time. As technology create addiction and also excessive addiction toward something is not good at all. It hampers in the academic grading and in personal life. She said that technology is something that makes our live

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

easy and efficient. Proper use of technology is must and utilizing the technology is in a proper was can help a student very well. Technology should be given to the students when they need it. If it is given before it is needed then it will come in no use and student will use it in a wrong way. These are the answer and the data that came up during the interview and research. Argumentative Paper: We use technology every day in our life. We are to some extent dependent on technology. From the morning to till night we use technology and we cannot think a single day without using technology. The frequent user on this technology is the students and they use it all the time during the day. Inside class, in gym, playground, study hour, lunch and even last think before going to sleep is technology. As a result the teenager of this generation is sometimes called Screenagers by the experts. They become so much attach with different gadgets an d screes of technology that they become dependent on it. Although students should use technology as a helping hand and not to be dependent of it but students do the opposite of this. They so much relay on it that they do not even the works what they need to do for their personal betterment. They take the help of technology. For example, they use internet for doing their homework where the home should be done by the students for their own learning. They dont read books but download the visual version or the movie of the books but it will not help them to increase their vocabulary and other reading skills. In Science Daily (2009) Greenfield said1, Studies show that reading develops imagination, induction, reflection and critical thinking, as well as vocabulary. Reading for pleasure is the key to developing these skills. Students today have more visual literacy and less print literacy. Many students do not read for pleasure and have not for decades. Students relay on technology to do their work and they became so much dependent that they lose their ability to think critically and reasonable. On the other hand there are some who will not agree with the issue. They says that the technology is a helping hand for the students and it increases there ability and develop them to meet the challenges of modern world. It also supports them to do their homework more perfectly than ever. The vast knowledge and the information they can get using technology is more helpful then only reading book. Students can access more information within a minute where they will only cover a single page of a single writing if they read books. Lowerison, Sclater, Schmid, and Abrami (2006) suggest that technology has the potential to transform the learning environment from passive to active and more subject to the control of the learner2. This shows that technology is a good thing and no matter how they use it

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

helps them in some perspective. Although it is matter of perspective but the comparison of the technology with books tells that it is books that helps a lot. It develops certain qualities and skills that can help a student in their future life. If they became addicted to technology and depend more on the technology it will harm them more than helping them. Hence, students should be more dependent on reading and other alternative way of study and be less dependent on technology.

Technology is a man-made object. It develops every day from it old version to a new version. New technology comes in our life every day with new features and working process. Technology is made for the betterment of our life and to make our life easier. This does not mean that students have to buy every new device and gadgets of new technology. Students should not waste money on unnecessary and expensive technological device and gadgets. They should use the device that will only help them to do their work more efficiently. As we all know technology is made for our betterment and make our daily life efficient so buying new devices and gadgets will not help us, it will only waste our money. Student should use technology which is appropriate for their daily work. For example, if a student of class ten buys an I-phone which is an advance cell phone then it is simply a waste of money because the device is made of higher function and for the use of those who has are appropriate for it. A person of class ten will be able to use 60% function of that cell phone. As a result it is a total waste of money. That person also might lose the phone as he is young in age and he is not mature enough to maintain that kind of expensive cell phone. This also goes with the other technological devices such as computer. A student who has the excess of computer and internet his main duty is to take help from the internet for his study but the reality is that in most of the cases students use internet as an entertainment device. Wilson (2010) said that, several recent studies showed that young people tend to use home computers for entertainment, not for learning and this can hurt school performance especially in low-income families. A student from low-income family cannot afford to use internet for entertainment as it is given to the students for learning purpose and it is a waste of money if it is only used for entertainment. The grades will surely fall in the schools and it also goes under the waste of money option. A student who is from a middle-class family do not need expensive device or gadgets but as the generation goes upgraded that student will buy new devices which are expensive and support in a minimum way in his life and this also is a waste of

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

money. These are some way that technology hampers the students and hampers the economic condition of the students. Some will say that technology is a blessing and as the day passes by new technology will come. We cannot stay with the old version and old technology because this is the age of modern science and with the development of technology we ourselves have to be upgraded. In 2001 a national study showed that 87% of faculty believes computer technology enhances student learning (Epper and Bates, 2001)3. This happened because of the upgrade of technology and the easy access of communication through different technological devices. While we praise the development of the technology it will never change that it is costly. If we look at the statistics we will see that new technology come and the price of the technology is higher than the previous one. Although there are many new functions and facilities but those are not for all people. Everyone has their own way of using technology and devices should be bought in the perspective of user and their field of use. Students should not think about showing of and buy new and latest devices and gadgets. They should think of think of the use and try to stop the waste of money in unnecessary technological gadgets and devices which will help them in future. Now a days technology is more important in our life. Sometimes it helps us to be educated in different sector and sometimes it entertains us. People are so addicted in technology that they cannot think and concentrate in any other work. They indulge themselves in the addiction of technology in an extent version that they even forget about the religious work they should do. As we all know every human being follow their own religious and they have their own way to maintain their religious norms and culture. However, in the present situation the generation is so much addicted to technology that they do not have time for their religious work and they do not pay any attention in their religious view. Different religion has different norms but all religion has some common values and rules and among them one norm is not to be addicted on something. Hence, the present generation is severely addicted on technology. They get so much addicted that they live in a virtual world and get lost in that world. For example, people use social networking site for connecting with others. Our young generation use it more than expected and some stays online for whole day. They give less attention in prayer and other religious function. Even if they are attending any religious function or they are in doing prayer they are not doing in with concentration. They are thinking about the virtual world. As

TECHNOLOGY DIMINISHING STUDENTS CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO THINK REASONABLY

Greenfield said in Science Daily (2009) that, These and other studies show that multi -tasking prevents people from getting a deeper understanding of information. Although people will say that this not entirely true, young people do their religious work and pay attention. They also refer that technology give youth to learn religious education and understand different issue from internet as there are many site in the internet. It helps them to know the answer of many religious questions. However, if we look at the statistic then the real percentage is very low. Among them some don not do it properly with complete concentration as they are doing multi-tasking inside their head. They are getting away from their religious view and perspective and getting addicted to technology. Hence, the main issue is that student should get rid of this addiction towards technology and concentrate on their religious norms and lead a normal life. Discussion: While doing the research my research hypothesis was that, Students will understand the adverse effect but they will not be independent, they will be dependent on technology. They have alternative option of technology such as books and other materials. On the other hand technology is essential for them but it has to be used in a proper manner. Then I had to interview different people from different part of the society and according to them, Technology is a gift. It helps us a lot. Without technology it was difficult for us to be developed. Technology is needed in every step of their life. It helps them in every aspect. IT helps them to be creative. The experts, students and general people all agreed that the technology is must. The alternative way is good but with the mix of technology a work of students would be better. Hence, technology is good in all aspect. Although there are some adverse effect but it helps students more than harming them. Now if we compare the hypothesis and the interview question then the facts that came up is very interesting. Firstly, people are not completely aware of the adverse effect of technology. They are using technology but the harmful effects that people are facing due to excessive use of technology are being neglected by the people. Secondly, students are not ready to except the harmful effect of technology. They are constantly being aware but they are not interested to pay any attention and they do not want to see the real image and the damage they are doing to themselves by being dependent on technology. Thirdly, students are more dependent on technology then and other material and resources. They think that technology is more correct then books and other reading material. Fourthly, People know about the harmfulness of the

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technology but they do not give proper attention to the matter. Everyone has a slight knowledge about the harmfulness of technology but they do not see them and give attention to the matter. They think that it might harm them slightly but on the other hand in return they are more benefit than ever. Fifthly, students and others do not consider alternative option of technology individually; they believe that combined work is better. As a work done by using reading material and other resources without any use of technology then that work might not be perfect but if that work was completed by using technology and also other resources then it will be a complete and perfect work. These are the end result that came up after the research. Through this research the issues that came up is that technology is harming us for sure and its main victim is the students. Although technology has some good qualities and it helps people a lot but its adverse effect is now at present affecting us more. Hence, the use of technology should be reduced so that the students can regain their creativity to do something by their own. Conclusion: Technology is must for the development of any country and any society. It is the blessing of modern science and every day we are being introduced with new technology but the main thing is that it may help us in many ways but on the other hand it also affects us. The addiction toward technology has made us lose our social skills and other qualities. The students who spent most of the time with the technology is being affected the most as they are the main user of technology. It affects in social, economic and religious aspect and hamper in the development of our new generation. Hence, students must use technology for support as well as see it as an alternative option without being dependent on it, avoid buying unnecessary and expensive technological devises and gadgets as it is just a waste of money and try to concentrate on other work such as religious education to get away from this addiction of technology. As Burbules and Callister (2000) suggest technology can be used well or poorly, and thus its effectiveness is dependent on how it used, by whom and for what purpose. It will make a better and good future for the students, young generation and the society we live in.

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Reference: 1. Wilson, J. (21 November, 2010).Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all 2. Science Daily. (2009). Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking An Analysis? Retrieved on 15th November from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128092341.htm (Time- 8:20PM) 3. Lowerison, G., Sclater, J., Schmid, R. F., and Abrami, P. C. (2006). Student Perceived Effectiveness of Computer Technology Use in Post-secondary Classrooms. Computer and Education, 47, 465-489. 4. Epper, R. and Bates, A. (2001). Teaching Faculty How to Use Technology. American Council on Education. Oryx Press.