Response: Intelligence vs. Knowledge

In response to Katie Emerson's post "Are We Getting Dumber?" (April 28, 2012):

Before answering this question, I think one must distinguish between the related, but separate, concepts of knowledge and intelligence.  Knowledge refers simply to the amount of information one possesses about the world.  Intelligence refers to one's ability to understand, process, and learn new information, and come up with original ideas.  I do think that, in some cases, technology can result in decreased knowledge.  However, I do not think that it results in decreased intelligence.  Furthermore, much of the seeming decrease in knowledge which many modern Americans exhibit is likely due less to technology than to sub-par educational systems.  Regardless of the existence of spell-check, if schools require students to write a decent number of papers by hand or on programs without spell-check, the students will learn how to spell.  Similarly, reading a lot as a child significantly enhances one's spelling and grammatical skills later in life.  Incorporating higher-level reading instruction into lower-grade curricula would help young students develop both better spelling skills and a better grasp of correct grammar.