This is my recommendation report

1.
DMDT Computer Lab
Student Performance Analysis
To: Mr. Gaither
From: Carlos Vela, DMDT Student
Date: April 16, 2010
Subject: Impact of Internet Distractions at the DMDT Computer Labs
Enclosed is a Student Performance Analysis in the DMDT Program Computer Labs.
This report analyzes the negative effects of internet distractions at the DMDT(Digital
Media Design Technology) computer labs and how it affects student performance.
The Digital Media Design Technology (DMDT) program is currently facing a problem
that perhaps has been there since the beginning. Students abusing the freedom of internet
use in the computer labs. With very few to none time consuming websites blocked,
students can often get distracted while trying to finish up a project during open lab time
in DMDT courses. This is perhaps not a serious problem but a solution to this could mean
an obvious rise in average DMDT student GPA. Being absolutely unable to fall into a
web of internet distractions will definitely help the students focus on the project at hand.
Something has to be done to prevent internet distractions in computer labs.

2.
Recommendation Report:
The Impact of Internet Distractions at the DMDT Computer Labs
Prepared by:
Carlos Vela
Report Distributed April 16, 2010
Prepared for:
DMDT Program Advisor: Garnet Gaither

3.
Abstract
This report analyzes the negative effects of internet distractions at the DMDT(Digital
Media Design Technology) computer labs and how it affects student performance.
The Digital Media Design Technology (DMDT) program is currently facing a problem
that perhaps has been there since the beginning. Students abusing the freedom of internet
use in the computer labs. With very few to none time consuming websites blocked,
students can often get distracted while trying to finish up a project during open lab time
in DMDT courses. This is perhaps not a serious problem but a solution to this could mean
an obvious rise in average DMDT student GPA. Being absolutely unable to fall into a
web of internet distractions will definitely help the students focus on the project at hand.
Something has to be done to prevent internet distractions in computer labs.
This is an important issue because students grades are directly affected by their online
vices. Even though it is within the students power to change that and focus all of their lab
time on schoolwork, someone has to do something about it in order to push the students
towards better grades without distractions.
iii

4.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
.................................................................................................................iii
Executive Summary
.................................................................................................................1
INTRO: DMDT PROGRAM COMPUTER LAB INTERNET ABUSE
.................................................................................................................2
A PROBLEM CONCERNING DMDT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
.................................................................................................................2
Article Analysis
.................................................................................................................3
Interview Analysis
.................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
.................................................................................................................6
References
.................................................................................................................7

5.
Executive Summary
This report analyzes the negative effects of internet distractions at the DMDT(Digital
Media Design Technology) computer labs and how it affects student performance.
At least one fourth of the students get distracted from their schoolwork during lab time in
the DMDT program, this is not surprisingly due to the excessive web browsing freedom
students abuse of; websites like:
• Youtube
• Myspace
• Facebook
• Onemanga
• Tumblr
• Twitter
Among other websites known to be time consuming (and to some extent addictive),
distract students from finishing up projects and as a result, a lot of incomplete or
imperfect work is seen during presentation day.
This is an important issue because students grades are directly affected by their online
vices. Even though it is within the students power to change that and focus all of their lab
time on schoolwork, someone has to do something about it in order to push the students
towards better grades without distractions.
This report will explain in detail why this issue is important and why something must be
done to make it better. Three articles related to this topic will be presented as well as an
interview with a student being directly affected by it. Along with the primary &
secondary research previously mentioned, conclusions about the topic and
recommendations are in place.

6. INTRO: DMDT PROGRAM COMPUTER LAB INTERNET ABUSE.
The Digital Media Design Technology (DMDT) program is currently facing a problem that
perhaps has been there since the beginning. Students abusing the freedom of internet use in the
computer labs. With very few to none time consuming websites blocked, students can often get
distracted while trying to finish up a project during open lab time in DMDT courses. This is
perhaps not a serious problem but a solution to this could mean an obvious rise in average
DMDT student GPA. Being absolutely unable to fall into a web of internet distractions will
definitely help the students focus on the project at hand. Something has to be done to prevent
internet distractions in computer labs.
This problem sparks a few questions:
• Do Internet distractions play an important role in lower student grades?
• Should time consuming websites irrelevant to schoolwork be blocked to prevent students
from getting distracted?
• Are Internet distractions easy to avoid?
• What else could solve (or minimize) this problem?
• What can the students do on their own to prevent this problem from happening?
This report will answer to all of those questions and prove this is a pressing need in order to
elevate the academic standards of the DMDT program.
This report will explain in detail why this issue is important and why something must be done to
make it better. Three articles related to this topic will be presented as well as an interview with a
student being directly affected by it. Along with the primary & secondary research previously
mentioned, conclusions about the topic and recommendations are in place.
The Academic performance of DMDT students needs to improve, and this report will prove why
and how.
A PROBLEM CONCERNING DMDT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
At least one fourth of the students get distracted from their schoolwork during lab time in the
DMDT program, this is not surprisingly due to the excessive web browsing freedom students
abuse of; websites like Youtube, Myspace, Facebook, among other websites known to be time
consuming (and to some extent addictive), distract students from finishing up projects and as a
result, a lot of incomplete or imperfect work is seen during presentation day.
This is an important issue because students grades are directly affected by their online vices.
Even though it is within the students power to change that and focus all of their lab time on
schoolwork, someone has to do something about it in order to push the students towards better
grades without distractions.

7. Article Analysis
The article “Digital distractions hinder productivity, creativity, UW media expert says” Talks
about Joanne Cantor, Director of UW-Madison’s Center for Communication Research and an
expert on the psychological impact of media and communications. According to Cantor:
“My life was getting so cluttered with all this information that I was never getting anything done.
If e-mail came in I felt a need to read it right away. Or I’d go look up one thing on the Internet,
and I’m so curious I’d get distracted and spend time reading all these interesting articles. I
figured if I was experiencing some of these problems, other’s were, too”
(Finklemeyer, 2010)
Cantor’s problem is also the case with DMDT students. Whether its on purpose or accidentally,
students will be more likely than a graduated professional to get distracted by their internet
freedoms. This problem drove Cantor to write a book on the distracting nature of digital devices.
Although she didn’t conduct original research she examined a range of studies by others, the
article points out:
“The book explains how the brain can’t work efficiently while multitasking, why information
overload can curtail creativity, and how being exposed to both traditional media and modern
digital devices adds stress to someone’s life” (Finklemeyer, 2010)
And according to the article “On Undergraduates and Internet Abuse”
“It is the student, who in an attempt to distance themselves from the psychological stress
associated with academic failure, may succumb to the temporary psychological distractions of
alcohol, substance abuse, and possible, the inappropriate use of internet-accessible content”
(Rivera, 2009)
This means that a student is more likely to engage in distracting activities (such as internet web
surfing) if the student is going through the psychological stress directly related to academic
failure, or the mere fear of academic failure, which is even more when the student has a project
currently due. Which is the case in the DMDT program when a project is given and free lab time
is provided to students.
“Students who are ‘internet dependent’ and show evidence of ‘academic impairment’ tend to
spend an inappropriate amount of time engaging in a full range of internet activities. It is
precisely the time-consuming use of ORPGS. Internet-chat, and other internet-enabled
entertainment resources that are of growing concern to many university administrators,
educators, librarians, and health care professionals”
(Rivera, 2009)
This article confirms the fact that students are easily distracted, especially if they’re already
‘academically impaired’ by being ‘internet dependent’.
Another article backs up these claims; “College Student Study Distractions – Text Messaging,
Sudoku, Facebook, and Other Procrastination Pitfalls” and it begins by stating “with cool
gadgets everywhere, how can a student be expected to concentrate? Here are some tips on how
to avoid procrastination in a world of cell phones and IM” And it describes each distraction
students nowadays face more than ever, along with tips on how to avoid the distractions, those
distractions range from handheld devices like Cell Phones, To television and videogames, to our
computer lab problem: Internet distractions. And it talks about Myspace, and Facebook, as well
as Instant Messenger Services

8.
“IM is an especially insidious procrastination tool because it can interrupt you while you work
on your computer. You may be fully engrossed in completing a paper, but when your sister IM’S
you with some juicy news, how can you resist?… IM also is becoming a classroom distraction”
(Rockler-Gladen, 2008)
All these articles have showed just how much of a distraction the Internet can be, and how
despite trying to avoid distractions it’s sometimes unavoidable. Students in the DMDT computer
labs also seem to be aware of this fact.
Below is an Illustration that summarizes the point of the data shown above:

9. Interview Analysis
An Interview with a DMDT student with a very low GPA (let’s just say it’s below 1) Interesting
Data was found regarding the subject of internet distractions in the computer lab, The student
was perfectly aware of his distractions but was unable to stop.

10. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Student performance in the DMDT (Digital Media Design Program) could be greatly improved
with the help of our own computer labs. If more time consuming sites were blocked from the
computers browsers we would have less students getting distracted with unnecessary websites
and would focus more of their time on their current DMD project.
I suggest blocking the following sites:
• http://www.myspace.com
• http://www.facebook.com
• http://www.youtube.com
• http://www.wikipedia.org
• http://www.deviantart.com
• http://www.onemanga.com
• http://www.meebo.com
• http://www.ebuddy.com
This would cut distractions by more than half, for students as well as instructors (youtube seems
to be an instructor’s favorite distraction) and students would find less excuses to procrastinate
and leave work incomplete.

11.
References
Finklemeyer, T. (2010) “Digital distractions hinder productivity, creativity, UW media expert
says” (http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/university/article_7835ca65-b347-53c1-
b04b-42d90be6d5cb.html)
Rivera, A. (2009) “On Undergraduates and Internet Abuse”
(http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/03/article-note-on-undergraduates-and.html)
Rockler-Gladen, N. (2008) “College Student Study Distractions – Text Messaging, Sudoku,
Facebook, and Other Procrastination Pitfalls”
(http://studyskills.suite101.com/article.cfm/college_student_study_distractions)