Many countries are increasingly focused on digital education: learning best with laptops and tablets. However, psychologists now warn that this achieves the opposite effect. Students are not improving; rather, they are declining and losing cognitive abilities.
For years, many states have invested in the digitization of education: instead of learning with pen and paper, students should rely on laptops, tablets, and the like. Some of these investments date back to 2002 in the US state of Maine.
Currently, psychologists are warning about the negative influence of purely digital education. An expert warns: Generation Z is the first generation in modern history to achieve worse results on standardized tests than the previous one. Other psychologists also support this warning.
The performance of students has been declining for years, and this is attributed by experts to digitalization
What do the experts say? Earlier this year, neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath stated in a written statement (PDF document) before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that Generation Z, despite its unprecedented access to technology, is cognitively less capable than previous generations.
Although the abilities measured by these tests, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, are not always indicators of intelligence, they reflect cognitive abilities that, according to Horvath, have declined over the last ten years:
For most of the 20th century, cognitive performance improved steadily across generations, primarily due to increased access to formal education and improved teaching quality.
Since the mid-2000s, this trend has stagnated and eventually reversed in many Western countries. Numerous indicators now show a stagnation or decline in reading and writing skills, arithmetic abilities, problem-solving skills, creativity, and overall cognitive performance among youth.
He bases this on various scientific data and impacts, including the PISA study, “The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study” (TIMSS), and “The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study” (PIRLS).
He not only reported declining test scores but also a significant correlation between the results and so-called screen time.
He is not the only one who sees the problem in digital media. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, explained to Fortune.com that spending more time in front of screens is not only ineffective in promoting learning but also counterproductive:
Many apps, including social media and gaming apps, are designed to be addictive. Their business model relies on keeping users engaged for as long as possible and checking for updates as often as possible.
Some countries are returning to analog teaching materials
What is the situation in Europe? In Europe, pure digital education is also under criticism. Some countries that invested heavily in technology a few years ago are now returning to textbooks. A prime example is Sweden: due to severely decreased reading skills and lack of concentration, the Swedish government has halted the “Digital First” course. There is now significant investment back into printed books, and the requirement for tablets in preschools has been abolished, as reported by Focus.de.
A second example is Denmark: after years of substantial investment, the neighboring country is increasingly relying on printed textbooks and analog learning again. Here as well, the reasons cited include negative effects on concentration, reading, and lack of learning success. This has been noted by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
What is the situation in Germany? In Germany, there is still ongoing discussion about whether printed textbooks are still relevant. Saarland was the first federal state to start an initiative to gradually replace traditional printed textbooks with tablets and digital learning media.
However, skepticism prevails. Reports show (for example SZ.de) that many teachers and parents are calling for a return or maintenance of the printed book to strengthen concentration and reading skills while frequently referencing European neighbors who have since moved away from digital concepts.
According to universities, students are struggling with reading. Behind this lies a well-known problem: people are reading less and this impacts text comprehension. More on this can be read on MeinMMO: Students of Generation Z come to university and according to lecturers are unable to read a sentence.
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