6th February 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
It seems that everywhere we turn in today’s world, objects that have functioned without the use of technology for decades, are being replaced with gadgets and gizmos to rival those of Inspector Gadget or James Bond. In schools, boards have become interactive, teachers are being provided with tablets instead of planners, and children are being asked to complete more and more homework assignments on the computer or with the help of the Internet.
Could these be replacing traditional teaching tools? Are our children only going to know how to interact with technology? These are growing concerns for today’s society as it turns more and more to the use of technology. Perhaps even books will become defunct as kindles and ipads grow more popular. Will our children still be required to learn how to write?
According to research, the average British child spends 6.1 hours a day on recreational screens including TVs and computer gaming. The increased health risks from such excessive exposure to screens include poorer academic performance, reduced attention span, sleep problems, depression and dependency – a very worrying list of ailments. In France, television shows aimed at under three’s have been banned due to research suggesting that a young child who watches three hours of television a day is up to 30% more likely to have problems being attentive in school from the age of seven.
Although technology appeared to be a godsend, it is quickly proving to be more of a problem for children. While we don’t want them to lose certain kinaesthetic skills, we do want them to join in with the technology boom. However, it is not about one approach but various different ones. Children should embrace the technological aspect of some lessons enjoying interactive learning, but this should not replace other types of learning altogether.