This unit/module focuses on the negative effects that smart phones are playing in our life in terms of memory and our attention via an article entitled “How Smartphones Hijack Our Minds,” by Nicholas Carr, October 6, 2017.
The article is rather lengthy so best to do this towards the end of the semester than at the beginning. With that in mind, the unit/module focuses on teaching students how to relay research results in a writing assignment by providing many examples of summarizing studies leading then to focused practice of students with a partner/group being assigned one of the studies and reflecting study results on a poster to be used in a gallery walk.
The unit/module then ends with a formulaic writing assignment to summarize the article, building support via research results from the article and then reflecting on their own smart phone addiction, if any, and solutions to lessen it. The unit/module is attached, so it can be printed and/or downloaded to tailor to an instructor’s own personal style.
<< Smartphones and You Unit >>
Hi, I’ve been a professor of ESL at Yuba College since 2003. In that capacity, I teach our advanced writing courses and VESL-related courses; i.e., Computer Skills for ESL and English for Employment. Prior to Yuba College, I have lived and taught in The Czech Republic, Turkey, Kuwait, and England. My interests are sports such as skiing, hiking, biking, and traveling for long periods to anywhere I have not been.