According to a new book written by Joe Clement and Matt Miles
titled Screen Schooled, students are
now strongly tethered to their digital devices and entertainment media. They
emphasize that “the new digital world is a toxic environment for the developing
minds of young people. Rather than making digital natives superlearners, it has
stunted their mental growth.” In their book, they recommend that teachers
reject most of educational technology and instead, teach simply and directly to
encourage understanding and thought. They want to improve student skills and
human interaction, not show them how to look up stuff on Google. Clement and
Miles estimated, based on several studies, that about 75 percent of high
school students walk the halls with cellphones in their hands rather than in
pockets or purses. In order to address this problem, the authors suggest that
parents ask questions at PTA meetings regarding the advantages of using
technology. They suggest parents should ask questions on improvements that the
use of screens has had on students’ academic achievement levels, and whether
school officials have any data to back up such claims. By asking the questions,
the authors said, parents can be more informed about the use of technology in
their children’s educational experiences.
Clement,
J., & Miles, M. (2017). Screen schooled: Two veteran teachers
expose how technology overuse is making our kids dumber. Chicago, IL: Chicago
Review Press.
