Future Learning Design Podcast Our Digital Delusions - A Conversation with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath
19 snips
Jan 4, 2026 
Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist and bestselling author specializing in learning and brain development, returns to discuss the pitfalls of digital technology in education. He critiques how tech has transformed classrooms, arguing that cognitive metrics peaked before 2002. Jared debunks five myths driving edtech adoption and explains how multifaceted digital tools may harm learning outcomes. He warns against the dangers of smartphones in schools, suggests analog practices to enhance learning, and explores the unintended consequences of tech on literacy.
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Moving Shack And Visible Kid Growth
- Jared jokes he moves every few months and can tell kids have grown by the background in his video calls.
- The informal detail humanizes him and shows the ubiquity of digital backgrounds in modern life.
Mechanisms Matter More Than Data
- Data showing harm from educational tech existed for decades, but mechanisms were missing.
- Jared stresses explaining mechanisms is what drives change, not merely presenting data.
Attention Is A Single Bottleneck
- Human attention is a single bottleneck; task-switching slows you, reduces accuracy, and harms memory.
- Jared warns digital multitasking undermines learning because tech is built to maximize rapid switching.
