Search Engines Change How Memory Works

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/search-engine-memory/

The article by Brandon Keim is based on Elizabeth Sparrow's research on how transactive memory is affected by online search engines. Data suggests that people are less likely to recall facts that are available online. This is similar to how we use people in our social network, relying on them as references rather than remembering everything ourselves. Sparrow begun a new study analyzing how students perform on critical thinking tasks when relying on transactive memory.
It will be interesting to find out what that study yields. We as teachers are more concerned with critical thinking skills and any insight into this is valuable. I hope to find that critical thinking is positively affected due to not having to "download" facts. I realize there is no substitute for having information readily available in your memory, however. Having to look things up on the internet for every piece would be time consuming. As we are moving toward interactive classrooms we should be aware of the implications of promoting such a style of thinking and memorization. Should students memorize anything if it is always available? Does memorization slow down or speed up critical thinking skills? These are questions that will hopefully be answered by future studies. I will be on the lookout for some answers.