As technology has played a bigger role in our lives, our skills in critical thinking and analysis have declined, while our visual skills have improved, according to research by Patricia Greenfield, UCLA distinguished professor of psychology and director of the Children's Digital Media Center, Los Angeles.

I found an article that would be helpful stating that reading for pleasure is down along with critical thinking and analysis giving way to a increase in visual skills due to visual media and video games. Johnathon McMullen

The explosion of social media has completely changed the way we communicate with each other. Whether via laptop computers, advanced mobile devices, Wi-Fi or enhanced 4G wireless networks, we are more connected than ever to everyone we know. Texting and the slang that goes with it have crept into students' more formal writing.

Technology's symbols and slang have done damage to students' writing skills. Cyber slang terms are shortcuts to convey thoughts and meanings, in turn proper English is rarely used or practiced. Johnathon McMullen