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The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

americanaffairsjournal.org

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Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#231

Post by vonseel »

plughs wrote: post #8

Our elementary school uses chromebooks from 1st grade on, and I do see a lot of downsides. The most outrageous problem, IMO, is that there are 'modules' that must be completed, and kids with computer access at home can work on them at home. Kids from low income families are screwed over - again. Other problems - spellcheck is always on, why learn real spelling when the computer fixes it for you? - The de-emphasis on…

- spellcheck is always on, why learn real spelling when the computer fixes it for you?

I wonder if over time you absorb the information anyways. Also, spell-check telling you there's an error isn't the same as automatically fixing the errors and hiding that there was ever an issue... so I think the right click/see list of likely words / pick one is still a learning process.

- The de-emphasis on handwriting is mentioned in the article. In-class assignments are still handwritten, but take-home projects can be typed.

I'm 30 and my handwriting is getting much worse unless I deliberately try to write perfectly. It's wild. Sometimes I don't write anything by hand for months at a time.

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#232

Post by geomark »

pier25 wrote: post #110

It totally is. I worked in EdTech for the past 4 years and was in contact with the education world. Digital devices are harmful to younger kids. The brain develops much better when using fine motor skills such as writing with pen and paper. France banned all digital devices in primary schools for a reason and all countries should do it. The most important factor in getting quality education are not digital devices or…

Digital devices are harmful to younger kids.

Indeed. Results of a study published in November 2019 [1] actually show a structural difference between preschool age children who experience a lot of screen time and those who don't. Myelination is reduced in the former. Myelination of brain white matter supports language and literacy skills.

[1] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abst...

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#233

Post by vonseel »

grawprog wrote: post #162
jacobolus wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People don’t learn the “rules of English” through explicit instruction. They learn them through years (decades) of exposure. Anecdotally, the main predictor of how good someone’s spelling will be is how much reading they have done.

I did. They taught us this in school. My spelling is good. I rarely rely on a spell checker and have autocorrect turned off on my keyboard because I find it annoying rather than helpful. Knowing how to spell and sound out words helped me be a better reader and kept reading interesting for me. Anecdotally, I've met many people that dislike reading because they find large words complicated to comprehend, their spelling…

Heavy readers with terrible spelling seems odd... spelling isn't something that is hard, it's kind of automatic once you use a language past a certain age, at least for me.

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#234

Post by hvidgaard »

plughs wrote: post #8

Our elementary school uses chromebooks from 1st grade on, and I do see a lot of downsides. The most outrageous problem, IMO, is that there are 'modules' that must be completed, and kids with computer access at home can work on them at home. Kids from low income families are screwed over - again. Other problems - spellcheck is always on, why learn real spelling when the computer fixes it for you? - The de-emphasis on…

> Plus the last thing my kid needs is more screentime. I don't want to have to sit next to them all night making sure that they are only doing 'productive' work.

I don't think that is necessarily the best approach - it get's the job done with regard to YouTube, but there is some derrived effect they're missing. I don't think problem is that children watch funny, but ultimately meaningless videos. That give them basis for a social life with their peers. The way I see it, the problem is when they do it too much. What I've done is limit the the available screen time for them. They can do what they want with that time they're allotted, but beyond that it's for homework or hobbies (drawing, guitar, programming, ect.). They learn to prioritize with they available screen time.

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#235

Post by kingkawn »

It is important to prioritize interpersonal interactions from a young age. Screen time is indirect interaction. It is essential for them to learn how to resolve conflict, play together, and make friends. activities with other people are invaluable to Social, emotional, and intellectual development.

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#236

Post by vonseel »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #171
kochikame wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you live in a Chinese-speaking country then, yes, it's a bad thing. There are plenty of situations in which you still have to write; at the post office, applying for things, hospitals, places like that. Maybe not every day, I'll grant you that, but you are going to hit barriers when required to write your address or apply for a driving license or similar. You don't want to be the guy painstakingly copying characte…

I lived in Beijing for 9 years and it didn't seem to be a problem. Yes, I occasionally had to really write something in Chinese (e.g. at the bank when making an account changed), but my hand was basically held while writing it. The post office and hospital never required me to write in Chinese.

My 69 year old father lived in Beijing for a few years recently and I'm pretty sure the company he worked for must have taken care of things like that for them because I can't imagine that man ever attempting to write Chinese.

I guess there's probably a pretty strong market for translators in the big Asian cities with American/European presence.

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#237

Post by geomark »

Jarwain wrote: post #182
pier25 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about handwriting per se but about using fine motor skills. For a healthy development of the brain, young kids need to develop motor skills which neurologically will allow cognitive skills to develop properly later on. Sorry I don't have any link to back this claim but I worked for a couple of years in EdTech with pedagogy experts.

Does typing Not require fine motor skills?

Motor skills, certainly. But not fine motor skills, obviously. There's a pretty big difference between getting within a cm of accuracy needed to press a key and drawing submillimeter-accurate curves. An aspiring artist or surgeon certainly needs that level of skill. But do fine motor skills impart other cognitive benefits?

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#238

Post by dijit »

vonseel wrote: post #231
plughs wrote: post #8

Our elementary school uses chromebooks from 1st grade on, and I do see a lot of downsides. The most outrageous problem, IMO, is that there are 'modules' that must be completed, and kids with computer access at home can work on them at home. Kids from low income families are screwed over - again. Other problems - spellcheck is always on, why learn real spelling when the computer fixes it for you? - The de-emphasis on…

- spellcheck is always on, why learn real spelling when the computer fixes it for you? I wonder if over time you absorb the information anyways. Also, spell-check telling you there's an error isn't the same as automatically fixing the errors and hiding that there was ever an issue... so I think the right click/see list of likely words / pick one is still a learning process. - The de-emphasis on handwriting is mention…

spellcheck can't fix things like "their" and "there", many people autocorrect/spellcheck the wrong word in.

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#239

Post by vonseel »

knolax wrote: post #207
raverbashing wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think some countries should just bite the bullet and start replacing their archaic writing systems with something more modern Phonetical alphabet, standardized spelling, etc Few people nowadays have the time and willingness to learn thousand of characters and their stroke orders. Not to mention the whole "every character has several unrelated pronunciations, but hey, context, right?!" of Japanese.

> archaic writing systems with something more modern The Latin alphabet is an archaic system that barely worked for Latin and doesn't work at all for English. There's a reason English dictionaries have to include IPA. > Phonetical alphabet You say so while typing in an alphabet that doesn't have enough characters to describe all the phonemes of the language you're using, and which is used phonetically in name only. >…

Honestly it took me a few seconds to remember what pique even means.

Re: The technology pushed into schools today is a threat to child development

#240

Post by pirocks »

emmelaich wrote: post #20

My kid made a small complaint about missing out on the laptop refresh for his year; it happened the next after he had left the school. I pointed out that you don't need a laptop at all to learn. Abraham Lincoln famously used the back of a shovel to write on! (occasionally) https://www.lincolncollection.org/discover/ask-an-expert/qa-...

Maybe it has nothing to do with learning and more to do with not being different than their friends.
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