http://www.kongregate.com/games/IcyLime/multitask

……….Multi-tasking is one of those buzz words that pseudo intellectuals love to toss around when discussing today’s generation of children. State of the art computers are able to multi-task because of the chips that have been installed to operate those machines. Humans, unfortunately for some, are not machines. Humans are subject to distractions and whims that do not impact the productivity of machines. Simply stated, the analogy of multi-tasking should not be applied to the human condition.

……….The URL above will take you to a site that allows you to attempt to multi-task. The results should not surprise those who are more astute. Examples of this concept, multi-tasking, that are front and center in the news include the use of cell phones while driving. A number of studies have concluded that talking and / or texting while driving is akin to driving legally drunk. That would clearly illustrate that this activity is clearly disruptive in the sense that attention is taken away from the driving aspect of the exercise. Other downsides include that the learning that takes place under these circumstances is significantly different from the normal learning process.

……….In far too many instances students are allowed to listen to music while they read or otherwise study. The implications there would be that, in most instances, the child’s perceptual filters are perhaps being dominated by the distraction; music. Many schools, over the years, have decided to go windowless to cut down on the distractions caused by daydreaming. Whether or not that strategy really works, I just do not know. In any event, when someone talks to you about multi-tasking, you should be very wary that they are not really able to understand that of which they speak. We should be teaching our children the efficacy of one task, one result, then move to the next task. In our society we get cute times two and lose track of the fact that many skills that should be somewhat easily learned are no longer possible for many students; especially those who have developed habits counter to successful learning.