The Case for Low-Tech Learning
In this video, Dr. Justin Baeder makes the case for reducing technology in classrooms and returning to proven low-tech approaches.
Key Takeaways
- Low-tech instruction works - Paper, pencils, textbooks, and face-to-face instruction produce strong learning outcomes
- Technology creates as many problems as it solves - Devices introduce distraction, management burden, and questionable educational value
Transcript
I am betting on a return to low-tech learning.
I think schools are going to turn away from Chromebooks, laptops, tablets, all of the kind of app-based exercises that students have been doing more and more of in recent years because there is a backlash, because there's a growing backlash from parents who are saying, why is my kid on an iPad half the day at kindergarten?
Why is my kid on a Chromebook in first grade when they should be holding a pencil?
Why is my kid...
doing stuff on a device in middle school that is distracting them and keeping them away from developing the fine motor skills developing the focus you know i think all of this appification all of this gamification all of this putting things on devices has introduced kind of a dopamine trap where kids expect everything to be stimulating right if you use any of these apps like a lot of them double down on the dopamine stuff you know like you get a question right and there are stars and animations And I wonder if that is frying kids' attention spans.
I think there's a lot of concern out there that it is.
And now lawmakers in 16 states are pursuing legislation to roll back ed tech, to roll back the one-on-one programs, to roll back the use of technology for things that we did just fine.
with pencil and paper, right?
And there's increasing evidence now that pencil and paper was actually better.
I think the argument changes a lot if ed tech is better, but at scale, it seems not to be.
So I think we're going to continue to hear more about this.
We're going to continue to see schools announce, hey, we are mostly putting away or completely getting rid of the technology so that our kids can engage with one another, engage with their teacher, do work with a pencil, learn how to write neatly with a pencil, you know, like that takes actual work and And students lose the muscles.
They lose the physical muscles in their hands to hold a pencil when we don't make them hold a pencil and we put them on a computer.
And it is a different experience.
And I'm just seeing more and more research that low tech is better.
So let me know if you think this trend is coming to your neck of the woods.