- Please read the following article "http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/12/do-your-kids-find-it-hard-to-focus-after-watching-spongebob-research-bears-that-out/" and answer the following questions:How does this article relate the chapter? Be specific and support with your text.This article describes a few studies of the negative effects of fast-moving cartoons on young children’s executive function or focus. These studies found a significant decline in the executive function of young children who had watched fast-paced cartoons, as compared to those who had watched educational cartoons or done drawings for the same amount of time. Based on these findings, the author concludes that fast-paced cartoons impair young children’s focus and are therefore not appropriate for kids between the ages of 3 to 5.
I think that the standpoint of this article is biased. Even if the finding that fast-paced cartoons have short-term negative effects on young children’s focus is true, no evidence for long-term effects is shown. Therefore, I do not agree with the author on the assertion that parents of young kids should select precisely what kind of cartoons for their children to watch.
Do you agree or disagree with the findings in this article?
I disagree with the findings in this article. The research reported here was carried out on a fairly small number of experimental subjects (the number of children). In addition, the exact ages of the children were missing in all but one study. Therefore, these findings are questionable.
Do you agree or disagree with the critique of the research?
I disagree with the critique of the research. The finding of SpongeBob viewers displaying more distraction and lower problem-solving skills could result from the fact that these children had been very focused on SpongeBob, and as they are young, they might have been unable to switch their focus rapidly during the tests. In contrast, the other children who had watched educational cartoons or done drawings could have been less focused and were able to switch their interests during the tests, as educational cartoons and drawing are obviously less entertaining than SpongeBob.
Do you think there are any limitations to this study?
This study has many limitations. The most prominent one is that long-term effects instead of short-term effects of fast-paced cartoons should be looked at, in order to draw any conclusion. 2.) Please watch the following video http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html and answer the following questions:How does this article relate the chapter? Be specific and support with your text.
This article describes a viewpoint that current education system squanders extraordinary capacities for innovation from children. The author started with stories of young kids who are innovative and not afraid of being wrong. Then these children were taught hierarchy of subjects in current education system and discouraged with what they were truly interested in. The process of academic inflation, characterized by the pursuit of high level degrees, made it worse. Finally, the author called the educators to educate our children’s whole being.
What do you think of the message in this video? Do you agree/disagree? Why?
I agree with the author on the idea of schools killing creativity. The author is right in saying that schools make children believe that mistakes are the worst thing in the world and that they cannot afford to make mistake. I also like the assertion of the hierarchy of subjects, as nowadays careers that lead to wealth and fame is so much more valued than the others.
If this is an issue with our school system, is there any way it can be changed? If so, how?
This is indeed an issue with our school system. It can be improved, if our school teachers, especially primary school teachers, can adopt a more encouraging and enthusiastic attitude towards young children. We could also diminish the importance of grades in primary school and encourage children to pursue as many interests as possible.
