Education: The Smart Era?

Has the internet created an intellectual evolution in assisting as an everyday resource, or has our tendency to find quickfire online solutions actually made us cerebrally weaker? Adele Trathan investigates 

In the ever-evolving landscape of knowledge and technology, one cannot help but ponder whether the world has become more, or less, intelligent over the past few decades. The internet has ushered in a new era of learning, empowering individuals to access a wealth of information and diverse perspectives. We find ourselves immersed in an ever-expanding pool of knowledge, one that transcends geographical boundaries. 

This digital revolution enables us to achieve tasks at unprecedented speed and undertake feats once thought unattainable, while the accessibility of educational resources and online courses has democratised learning, bridging the gap between formal education and self-guided exploration. 

As technology blurs the lines between fields, multidisciplinary innovation has become a hallmark of the contemporary intellect. It is perhaps weaved into this reality the fact that university degrees and other Higher Education qualifications don’t carry the same level of prestige that they once did. 

Social media’s instant connectivity is a good thing, but it also exposes us to misinformation, fake news, and pseudo-science, raising concerns about critical thinking and discernment. Society is now more suspicious and wary... to the point of paranoia. And technology’s convenience, while remarkable, can also foster complacency and laziness, leading us to forgo thoughtful contemplation. 

Moreover, the advent of streaming TV and wealth of online entertainment media consumption habits, impacting on things such as traditional reading practices and the positive mental uplift gained through old-fashioned research. 

Measuring intelligence on a national scale is a complex task, and it’s important to note that ‘smartness’ is multifaceted and can be influenced by various factors, including education, socio-economic conditions, access to resources and cultural changes. Indeed, scientists believe the huge rise in global intelligence between 1950 and the end of the 20th century had much to do with improvements in the way we lived. 

As for where we are now, Mensa has released figures that paint an interesting picture. In young people, IQs have been falling since the 1990s – in fact, well before the popular uptake of the internet. 

Robin Morris, professor of neuropsychology at King’s College London, recently told The Times that IQ scores had probably hit a ceiling in western society, but there wasn’t yet any reason to be unduly concerned. 

“Take 14-year-olds in Britain. What 25% could do back in 1994, now only 5% can do,” said researcher Michael Shayer, citing maths and science tests. 

And in adults, IQ levels have also been dropping since the millennium. Rather than pointing this to technology, a lead theory is that our cognitive skills may have plateaued, teetering into an era of intellectual lethargy. 

So, as we contemplate the question of whether our intelligence has increased or decreased, it becomes evident that there is no clear-cut answer. While some may decry a perceived decline in traditional measures of intelligence, we must acknowledge that intelligence manifests in diverse forms. It is an ever- changing and nuanced landscape, with both merits and drawbacks. 

Shayer concludes, “For many people, to be intelligent is to feel informed, valued and successful; and for the vast majority of individuals, that is probably enough.”