Thinking Skills for the Digital Generation : The Development of Thinking and Learning in the Age of Information

This important text synthesizes the state of knowledge related to thinking and technology and provides strategies for helping young people cultivate thinking skills required to navigate the new digital landscape. The rise of technology has resulted in new ways of searching and communicating information among youth, often creating information “overload”. We do not know how the new technologies will affect the ways young people learn and think. There are plenty of warnings about the dangers of information technology, but there is also enormous potential for technology to aid human thinking, which this book explores from an open-minded perspective. Coverage Includes: - An up to date review of the literature on thinking skills in general, and in relation to technology. - Practical guidelines for thinking with technology. - A scholarly review of the characteristics of the digital generation. - A discussion of the various steps involved in the thinking process. - A historical context of the Information Age and the transition from oral history, to printing press, to the Internet. Thinking Skills for the Digital Generation: The Development of Thinking and Learning in the Age of Information is an invaluable reference for educators and research professionals particularly interested in educational technology, and improving thinking and problem-solving skills. Preface 5 About the Authors 8 Contents 9 Chapter 1: Introduction to Thinking Skills for the Digital Generation 13 1.1 Scope of the Work 14 1.1.1 What Is the Main Message of This Book? 15 1.1.2 How Is This Book Different? 16 1.2 Thinking and Human Brain 16 1.3 Thinking and Memory 18 1.4 Book Content 20 1.5 Significance 22 References 22 Chapter 2: The Digital Generation 23 2.1 Defining the Digital Generation 23 2.2 Technology and Media Use by Children 0–10 26 2.3 Technology and Media Use by Tweens and Teens 28 2.4 Technology and Media Use by College Students 30 2.5 Learning Preferences of Young People 31 2.6 Guidelines for Technology Use 34 2.7 Main Message 35 References 35 Chapter 3: What Is Thinking? 37 3.1 Defining Thinking 37 3.2 Types of Thinking 40 3.2.1 Reflexive and Low-Level Analytical Thinking 40 3.2.2 Reflective Thinking 41 3.2.3 Critical Thinking 41 3.2.4 Creative Thinking 42 3.2.5 Convergent and Divergent Thinking 43 3.2.6 Inductive and Deductive Thinking 43 3.2.7 Concrete Thinking 43 3.2.8 Abstract Thinking 44 3.2.9 Analytical and Synthetic Thinking 44 3.2.10 Connective and Substitutive Thinking 44 3.2.11 Computational Thinking 44 3.2.12 Systems Thinking 45 3.2.13 Meditative Thinking 45 3.3 Purpose of Thinking 46 3.4 Main Message 46 References 47 Chapter 4: The Thinking Process 48 4.1 Background on the Thinking Process 48 4.2 Why We Need to Think on Our Own 49 4.2.1 The Battle Over Our Minds 49 4.2.2 The Influence of Media 50 4.3 Steps in the Thinking Process 50 4.4 Adjuncts to Thinking 53 4.4.1 Listening Skills 53 4.4.2 Language and Thinking 56 4.4.2.1 Words as Symbols 56 4.4.2.2 Denotations and Connotations 58 4.4.2.3 Changes in Meaning 58 4.4.2.4 Levels of Meaning 59 4.4.2.5 Ambiguity in Language 59 4.4.2.6 Abstraction 59 4.4.2.7 The Map and the Territory 61 4.4.2.8 Emotions and Language 61 4.4.2.9 Learning from Semantics to Develop Good Thinking Skills 62 4.5 Neurobiology of Thinking 63 4.5.1 Default Network 65 4.5.2 The Limbic System 66 4.5.3 The Reward Circuitry 68 4.5.4 Executive Functions 68 4.6 Basic Modes of Thinking 71 4.6.1 Perception and Response Process 71 4.6.2 Pattern-Making Process 71 4.6.3 Reflexive and Reflective Thinking Process 72 4.6.4 System 1 Thinking Process 72 4.6.5 System 2 Thinking Process 73 4.6.6 Intuitive Thinking of Experts 74 4.7 Main Message 74 References 75 Chapter 5: Sources of Information for Thinking 77 5.1 Role of Information in Thinking: Why is Information Important? 77 5.2 Locating Information: From Oral History, to Printing Press, to the Internet 78 5.3 Information Seeking Models 82 5.4 Information-Seeking Behavior 85 5.5 Challenges in Navigating the Information Landscape 89 5.6 Information Literacy: Thinking with Information 92 5.7 Main Message 96 References 96 Chapter 6: Internet and Thinking 99 6.1 Historical and Conceptual Perspectives on Cognition and Technology 99 6.1.1 What Does It Mean to Be Smarter? 101 6.2 Internet and Reading 103 6.3 Internet and Attention 107 6.4 Internet and Multitasking 109 6.5 Internet and Decision-Making 110 6.6 Main Message 111 References 111 Chapter 7: Sources of Errors in Thinking and How to Avoid Them 115 7.1 Background to Errors in Thinking 115 7.2 Perceptual Errors 116 7.3 Errors Due to Desires and Emotions 117 7.4 Prejudice and Superstition 118 7.5 Evidence Bias Errors 118 7.6 Errors Based on Evaluating Evidence for Claims 119 7.7 Cognitive Errors 121 7.8 Logical Errors 123 7.9 Errors Based on Formal Education 125 7.10 Errors in Thinking Related to Science 126 7.11 Errors Based on Information and Media Sources 127 7.12 Errors Due to Lack of Time 128 7.13 Errors Due to Social Expectations and Pressure 129 7.14 Other Impediments to Thinking 129 7.15 Intellectual Traits Needed to Improve Thinking Skills 130 7.16 Main Message 131 References 131 Chapter 8: Strategies and Tools for Learning to Think 133 8.1 Learning to Think 133 8.2 Thinking Strategies and Tools 135 8.2.1 Questioning 135 8.2.2 Collaborative Discussions 136 8.2.3 Solving Authentic Problems 138 8.2.4 Brain Training 141 8.2.5 Engaging with Systems Thinking 142 8.3 Memory Supports 142 8.4 Media Literacy 143 8.5 Thinking About Thinking 147 8.6 Artificial Intelligence 148 8.7 Main Message 150 References 151 Chapter 9: Summary and Future Directions 155 9.1 Book Summary 155 9.2 Strengths of Information Technology for Thinking 156 9.3 Weaknesses of Information Technology for Thinking 157 9.4 Future Directions 158 9.5 Final Thoughts 161 References 161 Appendix: An Exercise in Thinking 163 Reference 165 Famous Quotes on Thinking 166 Faith, Reason and Emotion 166 Humor 167 Impediments to Thinking 167 Making Decisions 167 Making Hypothesis and Testing Theories 167 Mass Media 168 Mental Habits 168 Use of Language in Thinking 169 Wisdom of the Ages 169 Selected Reading List/References/Websites 171 Chapter 2 171 Websites 171 Books 171 Chapter 3 172 Websites 172 Books 172 Chapter 4 173 Websites 173 Books 173 Chapter 5 173 Websites 173 Books 174 Chapter 6 174 Websites 174 Online Articles 174 Books 174 Chapter 7 175 Website 175 Articles 175 Books 175 Chapter 8 176 Websites 176 Books 176 Conceptual Definitions 177 Technical Definitions 181 Index 182 This important text synthesizes the state of knowledge related to thinking and technology and provides strategies for helping young people cultivate thinking skills required to navigate the new digital landscape. The rise of technology has resulted in new ways of searching and communicating information among youth, often creating information “overload”. We do not know how the new technologies will affect the ways young people learn and think. There are plenty of warnings about the dangers of information technology, but there is also enormous potential for technology to aid human thinking, which this book explores from an open-minded perspective.Coverage Includes:- An up to date review of the literature on thinking skills in general, and in relation to technology.- Practical guidelines for thinking with technology.- A scholarly review of the characteristics of the digital generation.- A discussion of the various steps involved in the thinking process.- A historical context of the Information Age and the transition from oral history, to printing press, to the Internet.__Thinking Skills for the Digital Generation: The Development of Thinking and Learning in the Age of Information__ is an invaluable reference for educators and research professionals particularly interested in educational technology, and improving thinking and problem-solving skills. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction to Thinking Skills for the Digital Generation....Pages 1-10 The Digital Generation....Pages 11-24 What Is Thinking?....Pages 25-35 The Thinking Process....Pages 37-65 Sources of Information for Thinking....Pages 67-88 Internet and Thinking....Pages 89-104 Sources of Errors in Thinking and How to Avoid Them....Pages 105-122 Strategies and Tools for Learning to Think....Pages 123-144 Summary and Future Directions....Pages 145-152 Back Matter....Pages 153-179 This book text synthesizes the state of knowledge related to thinking and technology and provides strategies for helping young people cultivate thinking skills required to navigate the new digital landscape