Is digital education hurting our kids? Canadian researcher urges back to books

Books parents once cracked open as schoolkids are fast disappearing from Canadian classrooms — and that’s a growing problem for today’s young scholars who are headed back to school, says a new report by Canadian researcher Paul Bennett. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Books parents once cracked open as schoolkids are fast disappearing from Canadian classrooms — and that’s a growing problem for today’s young scholars who are headed back to school, says a new report by Canadian researcher Paul Bennett. “Screens and overdependence on edtech are causing harm to the current generation of students,” said Bennett in an interview this week with Postmedia. In his newly-released report for the Calgary-based Aristotle Foundation, Children and Screens: It is time to bring back the textbook, the Schoolhouse Institute director said digital platforms, screen-based modes such as laptops, tablets, and mobile devices dominating daily teaching and learning haven’t been proven to be the best way to learn. “Despite the billions spent, there is little convincing evidence that digital tools have improved student achievement. In fact, there appears to be a negative relationship,” he told Postmedia. It’s all very Jetsons. Tech proponents — and salespeople — frame physical books as relics ill-suited to the bold, new millennium. In their place, billions in videos, interactive graphics, and “digital stimulants” are fed into the machine. Platforms like Google Classroom and Moodle are convenient time-savers for teachers. So what’s not to like? Without a working strategy and instruction, student attention — already a precious commodity — may be further diluted by keyboards, screens — and always the scrolling. “The result is a classroom where attention is fragmented, and sustained learning is next to impossible,” said Bennett, who has authored 10 books, including The State of the System: A Reality Check on Canada’s Schools. Despite expanding exposure to digital tools, academic performance is declining, while in the world’s top-performing education systems, in places like Japan and South Korea, good old paper textbooks were never shuffled aside. In 2023, Sweden concluded excessive screen use led to declining literacy, and they brought back printed books — and students welcomed the return. Read More Alberta schools strained as special education needs grow amid overcrowded classrooms University of Alberta study suggests setting boundaries for kids and cellphones In his 2024…