Texts: Nicholas Carr
Katie McGuire – a first year college student
Faith Santiago – a first year college student

Nicholas Carr acknowledges how technology is hindering our ability to effectively concentrate yet argues that our ability to be easily distracted is an adaptive feature in the current generation that allows us to effectively navigate a fast-paced, technologically-engulfed world. Although Carr highlights how distraction can be utilized as a tool when used properly, student narratives from an English composition course at UNE demonstrate how the constant distraction from their phones negatively impact them. Both Katie McGuire and Faith Santiago, first year undergraduate students at the University of New England, express concerns on their personal abilities to effectively concentrate on a task in the presence of their phones.

I agree that distraction…, however a constant attentional shit, especially one from phones, hinders one abilities to complete a task to its best ability.

Nicholas Carr Quotes:
“The truly wise mind will harness, rather than abandon, the power of distraction. Unwavering focus, the inability to be distracted, can actually be just as problematic as ADHD. Trouble with attentional shift is a feature common to a handful of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and OCD. It’s been hypothesized that ADHD might even be an advantage in certain change-rich environments.” (11)

“It’s possible that we’re all evolving toward a new techo-cognitive nomadism, a rapidly shifting environment in which restlessness will be advantage again. The deep focusers might even be hampered by having too much attention: Attention Surfeit Hypoactivity Disorder.” (11)

“There’s been lots of hand-wringing about all the skills [digital natives] might lack, mainly the ability to concentrate on a complex task from beginning to end, but surely tey can already do things their elders can’t, like conduct 34 conversations simultaneously across six different media, or pay attention to switching between attentional targets in a way that been considered impossible. More than any other organ, the brain is designed to change based on experience, a feature called neuroplasticity.” (11-12)

Katie “There is a big temptation to either procrastinate or multitask. This often leads to making my work less thorough. I often find myself skimming readings and articles rather than engaging and learning. With easy access to fly through online books and find what I’m looking for right away, I lose the opportunity to think, gain more knowledge and make my writing detailed. Technology can take away from engaging in school and work and cause myself and others to think less.
Along with multitasking, trying to stay in the present becomes difficult. Constantly getting notifications and having multiple apps and websites shifts my focus.”