29th April 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers have warned that students’ learning is being disrupted by overuse of devices such as smartphones and tablets. At a recent conference, teachers heard that some students starting school are able to use touch screen technology but do not have the fine motor skills required to play with building blocks. Teachers also warned that older students often arrive in class tired and unable to concentrate, having stayed up late playing computer games or instant messaging. The conference heard that children are becoming addicted to computer tablets, and urged schools to teach students to use the technology responsibly.
At the ATL’S annual conference in Manchester, concerns were raised over students’ lack of social skills, with teachers noting that excessive use of smartphones and tablets is making students anti-social and preventing them from developing vital life skills. Teachers noted that students have increasingly poor attention spans, and are unable to concentrate in class. They are also lacking the skills to engage in extended conversation and their analytical skills are poorer than in years past. Many teachers reported that students were spending break and lunch times at school glued to their phones and tablets, and warned that excessive use is having a serious impact on students’ learning.
The conference was keen to point out that it was a positive thing that students had highly developed IT skills, but warned that they should not develop these at the expense of other skills. They said that they were not advocating a ban on tablets and phones at schools, but that they wanted to highlight the risks to parents and teachers. The conference concluded that it is the job of schools to make sure that students are using the technology wisely, and to advise parents of the risks of new technologies as well as the benefits.