- Michael Bloomberg argues that screens distract students from tested learning methods
- Students take 20 minutes to refocus after digital distractions
- True education occurs through the direct commitment of teacher-student, not on the screens
Laptops are now common in American classrooms, with almost 90% of schools that provide devices to modernize education and prepare students for a digital future.
However, Michael R. Bloomberg, one of the richest and most influential figures in the world as a founder and owner of the majority of Bloomberg LP, has argued that the billions spent in these laptops for students have not been able to improve academics, changing the approach of traditional learning and raising concerns about the decrease in results.
“As someone who built a company developing a computer at the dawn of the digital era, I never believed that computers in the classroom were the cure for Ail schools,” said Bloomberg.
‘Collecting books and pen’: a call to rethink the use of laptop in classrooms
“Some of the most powerful educational interactions occur when an attentive and well -trained teacher can look into the eyes of a student and help them see and understand new ideas,” he continued. “Machines often do not have that power.”
Bloomberg argues that instead of increasing the dependence on screens, schools should encourage students to spend more time reading, writing and participating in direct interactions with teachers and classmates.
Laptops for teachers can improve instruction, but Bloomberg acknowledges that, although laptops of students can be useful tools, they cannot replace the value of a well -trained educator who guides students through meaningful learning experiences.
Studies show that the excessive use of laptop in classrooms leads to distraction, and students often take up to 20 minutes to re -confocate after participating in non -academic activities.
Despite the generalized use of the laptop, only 28% of eighth grade students and 24% of 12th grade students are competent in mathematics, while reading scores remain low, and US students. UU. They continue to delay their international classmates, which raises doubts about the effectiveness of the generalized adoption of the portable computer in schools.
Although the best laptop for engineering students can withstand advanced calculations and specialized software, excessive screen time in general education has not translated into better academic performance.
A survey after the pandemic found that more than 25% of the students spend at least five hours of time in the classroom daily on screens, often participating in educational games that cannot generate domain. In contrast, it has been shown that the methods tested over time such as reading physical books and writing by hand improve retention and understanding.
