Public Space Crisis, Smartphones and ADHD, Back to School

Public Space Crisis (15:48) Zenovia Toloudi, assistant professor of studio art at Darmouth University and a research fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Design. Before the internet, debates used to take place face-to-face in public spaces. However, present circumstances find us in the middle of a public space crisis—public spaces that used to be centers of democracy just don’t exist anymore.  Public Dialogue (31:14) Dr. Matt Townsend talks about the importance of face to face conversation and how online interactions will hurt us socially. Smartphones and ADHD (1:01:37) Dr. Kosta Kushlev is a research faculty at the University of Virginia. He studies how factors like technology, money, and parenthood can influence personal well-being.  ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can cause many problems. Among them, Trouble paying attention or staying still. Dr. Kushlev found that people not suffering from ADHD may unknowingly give themselves the symptoms of ADHD, through Smartphone notifications.  Preparing for Back to School (1:48:38) Julie Nelson (the "Child Whisperer") has a master's degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. She teaches classes such as Applied Parenting and Marriage and Relationship Skills at Utah Valley University. Julie talks what to plan for as you prepare kids for back to school.