Textbook? Isn’t that what tablet’s are for. Pencil? Nope, I’ll type my notes. Chalkboard? That’s what PowerPoints are for. Math lesson? Let’s watch a Khan Academy video.
In just over a decade, technology has taken the educational system by storm. From Smartboards to Google classrooms to every student working on an iPad, teachers are integrating these advanced technologies into their lessons. It’s efficient, environmentally friendly, engaging, and makes a teacher’s life much easier–but can this very technology be problematic? Some individuals think so.
The average Canadian child spends almost eight hours in front of a screen daily., which can have devastating consequences on their health. The 24 hour Canadian Healthy Living guidelines recommends only two hours of recreational screen-time every day for children between the ages of five to seventeen. This doesn’t include school-related screen time nor the screen-time associated with homework. It’s no surprise then that excessive screen time is an issue that parents are beginning to worry about.
This is a fair concern, considering how interrelated excessive screen time and sedentary behaviour are. Typically, when watching something on a screen, individuals are sitting down,, and so the increase in screen time has led to more sedentary behaviour in kids and us. So much so that Ottawa-based, healthy active living and obesity researcher Le Blanc found that screen time makes up a significant proportion of sedentary time This is worrisome, considering that excessive sedentary time is associated with various physical and psychological health outcomes . These outcomes include an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, blood pressure, cholesterol, as well as mental illnesses such as anxiety and behavioural issues. Too much sedentary time is also associated with decreased physical fitness, less sleep, lower self-esteem, and poor academic achievement.
All of this isn’t to say that technology is a villain that must be eradicated; the reality is that it technology is a very useful learning tool . Some researchers assert that the use of technology in classrooms has actually led to “active learning” due to increased student engagement. Shy students who normally, wouldn’t raise their hand or speak aloud participate more comfortably with technology. This is achieved through online quizzes and polling questions which are not for credit. As well, the instant feedback from quizzes allows students to evaluate their own understanding of the class content and teachers can use it as a subjective measure of comprehension. In this way, learning-related concerns can be identified and dealt with quickly.
With technology at school, students also have access to digital textbooks, some of which have links to various other resources for further reading. If a written concept is unclear to a student, they can also watch a video, or see various images or diagrams to enhance their learning. Proponents of technology use in the classroom even argue that it allows for a more collaborative learning environment. Students are able to share information, work together on group projects, and interact with their teachers outside of class time. However, as many of us know, the Internet is home to reliable and unreliable sources of information. Therefore, it is vital that students are taught how to identify reliable sources when looking for information.
On the flip side, some educators argue that electronic devices are a source of both distraction and addiction in the classroom. Undergraduate students actually learn less while using technology such as laptops or tablets during lectures, writes Susan Dynarski, a professor of education, public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, in The New York Times. She adds that they also tend to earn worse grades and that laptops distract from learning, both for users and for those around them. Some argue that appropriate laptop-use is the student’s responsibility, and that students need to take their education seriously. But this can serve as a problem for elementary, middle, and high school students, who are younger and may not understand how they are being distracted from their learning.
Ultimately, it seems that the advantages of screen time in school outweigh the disadvantages for the most part. The most concerning yet possibly subtle disadvantage is the health risk involved with excessive screen time. However, as with everything else in life, it is best to do everything in moderation.
By Aisha Khan
Please note that opinions expressed are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page.
