Managing distractions

I like the options that teaching in a computer lab brings to writing classes - afterall, writing today is done on computers, but they offer so much distractions. Students aren't the only ones. In presentations to teachers and business people, wise presenters generally block access to the web, and / or expect professional behavior (in real life people lose promotions, jobs and other opportunities - and worse). A business writer explains that we need to stop blaming technology and be honest.

If you are having sex, you have a good sense that very few emails in the whole world need your attention right then. If you are at a birthday party for ten year old boys and they are screaming up and down a soccer field, you are probably bored and emails look a little more enticing. This is not about addicted or not addicted; this is an issue of knowing when email is essential and when it's a distraction.

You have probably been out to dinner with friends and they checked their Blackberry. This means you are not their most important priority at that time, just for that moment. You of course hope that your presence would make you most important, but in fact, it did not. Does that mean your friend is addicted to her Blackberry? No. It means your friend is prioritizing and she's letting you know that .

She elsewhere uses a colorful / NSFW analogy (see last 3 paragraphs) to note that we don't check technology while engaged in sexual congress, because it's fun and interesting. We use it when we're bored and want stimulation. I'd like to add to thoughts.

1. Being plugged means you will miss some of the subtle and not so subtle joys of life. Parents texting during a soccer game will miss seeing their childscore goals and students on facebook or texting during class will miss information and fun
2. learning requires quiet reflection. Sometimes we need to be disengaged from the constant bombardment of stimulus to be open - to give our minds the space we need to move ideas around and rearrange our thinking.
   

We need discipline in using technology - but in my classes lately I'm not seeing self-discipline.