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Typical prohibitionist mindset. Lots of people use X, we don't like X, we ban X instead of understanding how to properly and moderately integrate X into our liv
by chpmrc 8y ago
Typical prohibitionist mindset. Lots of people use X, we don't like X, we ban X instead of understanding how to properly and moderately integrate X into our lives. Smartphones and tablets are GREAT learning devices. If we keep blaming the ineptitude of teachers on devices the quality of education will never progress.
EDIT: part of the education process is to teach kids how to use and not abuse these devices and when it's appropriate to use them for entertainment. Telling them "you can play Fortnite for an hour after you finish this math challenge" is way better than "you can't play Fornite at school!". I remember having the same policy applied for when I was in school and we would play Pokemon TCG. When it was banned we would play in secrecy during class, when they gave up and allowed us to play during recess we stopped playing during class. It's just common sense.
- Yoric 8y agoWould you allow students to come to class with their own TV and to watch it whenever they want? Because, in a school setting, that's exactly what phones and tablets are: distraction engines.
- djaychela 8y agoThat's a great phrase - 'distraction engines' - which my stepkids will be sick of fairly quickly. Love the TV analogy, BTW.
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- EliRivers 8y agoSmartphones and tablets are GREAT learning devices. My experience is certainly the opposite. I do all my best learning without smartphones and without tablets.
- chpmrc 8y agoYou prefer other devices, not everyone does. Most people nowadays own a smartphone but not a laptop. And books are arguably less engaging than apps for a generation that grew up not reading them (hard to swallow, since I'm an avid reader, but it's true).
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- EliRivers 8y agoYou said they were GREAT learning devices. I agree that some people may prefer them, but they're still awful learning devices compared to more conventional learning devices, and especially so in a classroom.
- bkor 8y agoIn Netherlands they've been using all kinds of IT devices for 10+ years (depending on the school, etc). Recently a study was published which made clear that it doesn't benefit at all plus that books + notepad might be more beneficial. Cannot find the article about it.
- michaelmrose 8y agoThe idea that you think smartphones are an apt replacement for books and laptops indicates a failure to evaluate both.
- zzzzzzzza 8y agoKind of funny that you say this when smartphones and tablets are fundamentally designed to consume whereas a laptop is designed to create - but somehow a laptop is not included as a "great learning device" - what kind of "learning" are we even talking about?
- chpmrc 8y agoYou can consume and produce good content with smartphones as well. Just not the same kind you would with a laptop. Are you saying that "playing" Duolingo on my phone isn't teaching me anything?
- sp332 8y agoLaptops can be good for typing I guess, but for audio, video, or just drawing I'd rather have a tablet.
- MaxBarraclough 8y ago> Smartphones and tablets are GREAT learning devices. {{Citation needed}} I believe studies have shown that gadgets do more harm than good in school environments. > If we keep blaming the ineptitude of teachers on devices the quality of education will never progress. Even if smartphones really are a hindrance?
- chpmrc 8y agoTools are never a hindrance. Their misuse is. And I don't need a citation since those are just tools for consuming content and the "learning" part depends on the content, not on the tool. Try playing Math workout and tell me if you're not learning arithmetic a lot faster than with any other traditional "exercise".
- baud147258 8y agoExcept if you leave a teen with a smartphone, he won't play Math Workout, but rather browse Instagram. Not all classes can be "gamefied" like this too. And I don't think our current education board has the knowledge to use the tool, so I think it's a better solution.
- EliRivers 8y agoIf it's about properly using the tools, then surely books win. All you have to do is use them properly.
- privacypoller 8y ago"guns don't kill people; people kill people" "Hey kids what are you going to do with your screen time today? daily endless-runner challenge? collect gems for virtual powerups? or Math Workout?"
- mercwear 8y agoYou seem to be looking at this through the lens of best case scenario. These are kids, many if all of them are probably mid puberty. The phones are not being used to take notes. They are playing fortnight, doing whatever replaced texting at this point, and generally just ignoring the lesson.
- chpmrc 8y agoThat's because kids are not educated on how to properly use them. It's like saying that YouTube is not being used to learn stuff. You can watch crappy videos or you can learn how to multiply like Japanese kids. It's all about content, not devices.
- vorpalhex 8y agoThose kids and their newspapers! I bet all they are ever going to do is read the news and not focus on the lesson. Can't they read that muck-racking when they get home? It's going to rot their brains! Don't even get me started on that overtly sexual and disgusting ballroom dancing!
- flying_kangaroo 8y ago"Back in your day," were you allowed to just pull out a newspaper in the middle of class and read it? I find that doubtful.
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- michaelmrose 8y agoTeachers are there to teach you math science etc not how to use your cell phone responsibility that lesson falls on your parents.