Source: Fortune
Summary
Research suggests that the widespread use of technology in schools has had a negative impact on the cognitive abilities of Gen Z. Despite having access to more information than any previous generation, Gen Z is scoring lower on standardized tests and is less cognitively capable than previous generations. Experts point to the overuse of technology in schools and the constant distractions it provides as a major contributor to this decline. Some schools have implemented cellphone bans and limits on technology use in the classroom in an effort to mitigate this issue.
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The numbers tell one story. Maine’s laptop program, launched in 2002, was meant to improve student learning, but 15 years later, test scores had not improved. The program’s failure is mirrored nationwide, with the US spending over $30 billion on laptops and tablets in schools. Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath testified before the US Senate that Gen Z is less cognitively capable than previous generations. Horvath blamed the overuse of technology in schools for this decline, citing a correlation between screen time and lower test scores.
Horvath’s warnings are echoed by other experts, who point to the addictive nature of social media and the constant distractions it provides as a major contributor to the decline in cognitive abilities. Some schools have taken steps to limit technology use in the classroom, but more needs to be done to address this issue.
The stakes are high, with Horvath warning that a less capable population endangers our ability to overcome existential challenges. As one expert noted, “Learning is effortful, difficult, and oftentimes uncomfortable. But it’s the friction that makes learning deep and transferable into the future.”
The solution lies in finding a balance between technology use and traditional teaching methods. As Horvath said, “This is not a debate about rejecting technology. It is a question of aligning educational tools with how human learning actually works.”
The announcement sounds familiar. We’ve heard warnings about the dangers of excessive screen time and the importance of balancing technology use with traditional teaching methods before. But the consequences of inaction are dire, and it’s time to take action.
Author: Evan Null
