This article was originally published on the Channel 7 website.
It was seen as the next big step in the education evolution.
After the launch of iPads 10 years ago, personal tablets became a student staple in the classroom.
But, new research from James Cook University has revealed that devices might not be the game-charger we had hoped for – showing they did not enhance Maths, English and Science skills.
“Technology isn’t necessarily influencing children to get greater marks in Maths or English, but it’s also not hindering them learning as well,” said Dr Jo Orlando.
“I think we know that, because it’s not just about putting a device in front of a child – it’s how it’s used, it’s a child’s IQ, it’s the teacher, it’s the classroom and home environment.
“Lots of things contribute to how a child learns.”
Warning over fine motor skills
While the study found that working online can help kids learn collaboration, communication and research skills, technology can also become a distraction when it isn’t used well.
Due to touch screens and typing, young kids are also not learning fine motor skills such as handwriting, colouring, and physically cutting and pasting.
“They might be swiping, tapping and using the keyboard and typing – so with their fingers, they’re using quite broad actions,” Orlando said.
“The study is saying if they’re using devices too much, then they’re missing out on those fine motor skills – like holding a pencil or picking up small things.
“A lot of studies show that if a child is doing well at school, they actually have really well developed fine motor skills.
“So we don’t want them on their device all the time.
“We want them on there sometimes, but we also want them doing these traditional kids of activities like colouring in and handwriting to help develop their fine motor skills.”
The perks of digital literacy
“What I found in my own research is that children have developed great digital literacy skills,” Orlando said.
“They’ve developed really good independence and confidence in finding their way around the apps that they’re using at schools.
“They were going on to different websites and looking at the text and images and analysing those – so they had good critical analysis skills.
“We know that’s really important for learning, but it’s also really important for their future careers.
“Some great skills have come out of this online learning.”
Finding the balance
“The biggest warning sign is if all of your child’s activities are done on a screen,” Orlando said.
“This includes all of their learning, hanging out with friends, and their entertainment.
“If they don’t have any non-technology interests, that’s a warning sign because it leads to information overload.
“They will have trouble sleeping and problems staying focused – and also, they’re not spending time with other children and other people.
“It can lead to social anxiety and social awkwardness, so there’s definitely that need for balance in their activities.
“Teenagers need to get a sense of what they’re spending their time on online, because that realisation helps them to think, ‘I need to make some change.’
“Also encourage them to do other things online that aren’t passive – we want them to be creative. We want them to make music or look up recipes and cook things or make videos.
“There needs to be balance in what they do online as well.”
