Stephen Downes

I am not nearly as enthused by 'slow learning' as are many of the educators writing in this space. Slow learning is an approach that does away with technology and emphasizes focus. The idea is to provide students "with an opportunity to slow down, enjoy silence, put away their digital devices for a bit, be in tune with their thoughts and with each other and practice patience." I like that sometimes - it's why I sometimes turn off the music when I'm riding my bike - but not when I'm learning. For some people silence is nice, but for me it's when my tinnitus ramps up and my internal voice starts cycling. The digital devices give me a focus that inert objects like pencils and papers can't. When I'm learning, I want to be engaged, not bored to tears. Maybe this is just me - maybe silence suits everyone else but me. But somehow I doubt it.