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When my son, James, was doing homework for school, he would have five or six windows open on his computer, Instant Messenger was flashing continuously, his cell phone was constantly ringing, and he was downloading music and watching the TV over his shoulder. I don’t know if he was doing any homework, but he was running an empire as far as I could see, so I didn’t really care.
Ken Robinson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the distractions faced by students today while they attempt to focus on their homework.

Ken Robinson humorously describes the chaotic environment in which his son attempts to do homework, filled with distractions from technology and media. He suggests that while it may seem like his son is not focused on his schoolwork, he is actually managing a range of activities that reflect the multitasking nature of modern youth, ultimately implying that this may be a new form of engagement rather than a problem.

Themes

HomeworkDistractionsTechnologyMultitaskingEducation

In practice

Example use cases

During a seminar on modern education, I shared this quote to illustrate the challenges students face with technology.

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A little wisdom, now and then

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