While digital devices are ubiquitous and most teachers see learning benefits from their use, most teachers across all grades want to scale back use — 61% say students should use devices less often according to a Walton Family Foundation and Gallup survey cited in a K-12 Dive article.
Two-thirds of all teachers surveyed support making device-based classes paper-based instead, the report found.
Scrutiny has grown particularly for younger students. Almost all elementary teachers (95%) report their students use laptops, tablets or other digital devices in their classrooms,
About half of elementary teachers (46%) say devices cause distractions to some degree during instruction and 61% say digital tools help students learn more effectively.
Most teachers will say that devices do equal amounts of harm and good or do more harm than good. Fewer teachers overall, including elementary teachers, declare that student learning devices do more good than harm.
Teachers who manage strong oversight of devices are more likely to view devices positively — saying the devices are a good fit for their students’ needs. These teachers are also less likely to say devices are distracting.
Wealthier districts are much more likely to see the tools they use as a good fit for their students compared to higher-poverty districts. This is “a gap that may reflect differences in the tools schools can afford and how they’re implemented,” the report said.
These sentiments from teachers come as screen time limits and other restrictions are being placed on ed tech in schools nationwide.
Still, national groups and leaders, including the U.S. Department of Education, have told schools to consider more than just screen time when putting restrictions on tech use.
In August, the department told schools they should consider whether technology is improving learning and student outcomes — not simply whether tech should be used at all.
The American Psychological Association recently recommended that policymakers should examine what students are doing on screens, what activities tech may be replacing, and whether it helps or harms learning.
K-12 Dive
