The problem with computers in education around the world

[HuckleB]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/09/15/how-much-computers-at-school-are-hurting-kids-reading/

"There's an interesting thing happening in countries where kids are the most comfortable with computers: they aren't reading all that well. In fact, the more children use computers at school, the more their reading abilities seem to suffer.

The chart below, plucked from a new report from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), shows the relationship between computer use at school and reading abilities in developed countries around the world, including the United States, Germany, China, Japan, Australia, and others. And it doesn't bode well for those pushing for ceiling-less introductions of technology into classrooms.

"Overall, the use of computers does not seem to confer a specific advantage in online reading," the report says. "Even specific online reading skills do not benefit from high levels of computer use at school."

Nor does it seem to help print reading. The best readers, as it happens, tend to be those who use computers slightly less than average. From there upwards—in terms of how often kids browse, email, chat, and learn on computers—computer use only seems to hurt reading skills (notice how the line dips in the chart above for both digital and print reading).

..."


Yes, more research needs to be done. Still, it shouldn't be ignored.

[JayhawkSD]

1. It's worse than that. Much worse.

Rducation is not about what you learn. It's about learning how to think. It's about seveloping social and inyerperpersonal skills. Computers are highly detrimental to all of that. Today's political candidates were educated in schools that had computers.

[bemildred]

2. Computers are a crutch. nt