Opinion Piece: How much technology is too much?

From when I was growing up as a student the only forms of technology I was able to use during school was the computer in the library, or when the teacher had found an educational video for the class in watch.  By stepping into the classroom today as an EA, I am shocked to see how important technology is to the student's everyday lives. Whether I am walking in the hallways in Secondary School or acting as a supervisor on the playground for yard duty in Elementary School. Technology seems to be a lot more important than in did 15 years ago when I was in school. With having students either quickly checking their phone or finding the excuse to need to use it. Technology is everywhere.

To go to my point, how much technology is too much? For roughly 8 years (2008-2016) multi-tasking was promoted to be a lot more beneficial than single tasking. Unfortunately, until recently, this theory was proven to be wrong. As single tasking in fact was scientifically proven to be a lot more beneficial. To have this understanding and to see how much multi-tasking is being utilized by students through technology, it doesn't make sense to me. Multi-tasking seems to be so ingrained into today's society (especially the youth) and I believe this will pose great problems on their cognitive development as they get older. 

I can see and understand the benefits of using technology to enhance learning, but personally when we are having the younger students trained to be so reliant on technology so early on, this seems problematic. In most cases from my supply experience, it seems that technology is having the opposite effect. Cell phones when I was in school were always seen as a distraction, but now it is seen to be as a way to enhance a student's learning. I am interested to see how technology continues to shape technology.

Elijah C @ NU