Meditation and Education: Modernizing Learning through Ancient Techniques

Abstract

71 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Journalism and Communication, and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Fall 2013.

Attention, contemplation and insight on the one side, productivity, acceleration and
 efficiency on the other. The contemplative slow-paced and the technological fast-paced
 worlds may seem to be opposites, yet they complement each other. However, cultural
 indicators suggest that the "more, faster, better" world has gradually gained the upper
 hand. In the Western world efficiency appears to be key to success. The Oxford English
 Dictionary defines efficient as "achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted
 effort or expense." Benjamin Franklin recognized that "time is money" as early as 1748;
 however, this maxim appears to become more and more indicative of today's society. In
 order to keep up with a continuous striving for profit and advancement, society turns
 towards technology. Today's generation of students has learned to flourish in a
 technology-driven world. While they have access to an infinite amount of data and
 produce professional work, they are also extremely distracted, stressed and dependent. In a study on the impact of laptop multitasking on classroom learning, researchers
 found, “such a lifestyle is intended to increase efficiency; however, there are limitations
 to how well multiple tasks can be carried out concurrently” (Sana, Weston, Cepeda,
 2012). This brings up the question whether students are both physically and mentally
 present in the classroom. The omnipresence of smartphones, laptops, and iPods has only
 fueled concerns about the tech-enabled student. The advertising agency re:fuel in New
 York specializes in the promotion of brands in the college market. According to its
 latest study, which was published in the June 2013 edition of College Explorer, the
 average 18 to 34-year-old college student in the U.S. owns seven electronic devices,
 such as laptops, smartphones and video game consoles. The impact on attention and
 performance is apparent when multitasking has become a way of life. Many students
 find it hard to sustain concentration and process information. A potential remedy is a contemplative tradition that dates back to antiquity:
 meditation. It can increase efficiency through improving concentration, attention and
 goal-directed action, therefore enhancing academic performance. Although highly
 useful for students, the implementation of meditation in American universities only
 moves at a sluggish pace due to its religious connotation. This thesis affirms that
 meditation practiced in a secular way closes the gap between the fast and the slow
 world and serves as an additional resource to improve academic performance. While no
 panacea, meditation can shift the educational experience individually and globally.