Pay attention TO Attention - becoming Net Smart

Rheingold addresses a broad audience as he explains his value of learning the skills necessary to join a community of digital media literates and shape our own lives through these skills; one such skill is to think critically about the information around us and how we interact with that information (14). Here, he establishes the complexities and challenges within the internet and introduces us to a recurring concept: attention. He first describes this process as reflection, then “after embarking on [the] occasional self-examination, it’s time to turn the tool of attention control...to the task of finding the information you need at the moment you need it, learning what you need to learn and forgetting what you don’t need, and most important, learning how to filter out the bad info” (15). In this explanation he shows how other literacies, such as critical reading and participation, will build upon attention.

I would like to share some of the standouts for me in each of the literacies he described:

Attention:

·       We all have media distractions but with training we can have been attention. 

·       Breathing is good!  Paying attention to our bodies, our mind and our breathing – also get up and move regularly.

·       There is no real multitasking just task switching.  I find that I can have many tasks going, but when I think about it, I really have to focus on one with my full attention to get it done then move onto the next thing. If I only do a little of one thing then move on it may not be my best work because I need to give the task my whole attention.  I think that is why I like lists – that really helps me focus on one thing at a time, get it done and have the wonderful pleasure of crossing it off!

·       It is ok to have social media goals- not only is it ok but it serves a purpose for attention with intention.

Crap Detection:

The answer to almost any question is available, if you know how to search.  This is part of my job description!   It is learning how to search, knowing what words to use and filtering.  It is a lifelong learning process.  Rheingold lists a great strategy to verify information called triangulation – where you find three sources before deciding to pass it on.  I could go on and on about people posting all sorts of crazy promotions or rumors on Facebook.  I know they are not even checking just posting that Costco or Disney is giving away free stuff – um no, they are big business and unless you are in a Costco getting free samples there is no free. 

Participation:

We all have the power to participate so easily with our devices.  We can use this power as a force to do good or evil.  We have the opportunity to model online participation to our students in shared activities or examples of online communities.  I really relate to this in the book when he says “Awareness of your digital footprints and impacts of our digital profiles ought to precede your conscious participation online.  Think before you post, because your digital actions are findable, reproducible, an available to people you don’t know, and will remain available to all indefinitely.” (p249).  This is so important to all of us and we have a chance to discuss it now from a very early age as students can begin creating and posting once they begin school.  This again is something that has to be addressed so early now and repeated over and over again.

Collaboration:

It is so interesting that we stress so much in school to “do your own work” yet I find myself seeing over and over again how important it is to work together and give students opportunities to practice this skill.  It is hard and somewhat a developmental stage for students to cooperate, coordinate and collaborate.  It is rare in the “real” world that we are doing something truly alone but working with many minds to come up with a group solution to a problem.  An example of this is the “team lead” meeting is not called the “guiding coalition” meeting.  Most issues or problems at our school are almost always addressed as a group.  We need to see that more in our activities in our lesson plans.

Network:

This reminds me of the saying “it’s who you know”.  This just makes it a wider circle with online networks and again learning how to position yourself as a contributor.

I believe it is true we do not have in place enough lessons or support to help our students have enough instruction in these areas.  These digital literacies are becoming just as important as learning to read or the multiplication tables.  Our lives online are happening right now and our students need to be taught and re-taught how to be “net smart”. 

Rheingold, H. (2014). Net smart: How to thrive online. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.