As educators in the Digital Age, we have no choice but to put our students in front of screens to do meaningful, authentic work. Of course, not all meaningful learning experiences necessitate screens — in fact, some work is better done without screens– but in order for students to gather the most current information, synthesize it, construct meaning out of it, and reach an authentic audience with their conclusions, screens connected to the Internet are often a must.

However, in light of this reality, it is vital that educators, students, and parents understand the addictive nature of modern technologies, especially those that keep us tethered to our screens. This podcast from NPR’s Fresh Air sheds light on they way modern technologies affect our attention spans, the way we interact socially, and our brain chemistry.

This is not to say that we need to back off on screen time in school. As long as the technology we choose is the best tool for the learning at hand, we should keep doing what we’re doing. But as educators, we can certainly take this information to heart and share it with the larger learning community.