There is a growing concern among parents and educators about the increasing use of laptops and iPads in schools, with worries about distractions, lack of consistency in usage guidelines, and the impact on young children’s learning. Some schools are introducing technology at a young age to prepare students for online tests, but there is a call for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to set clear guidelines on screen use. The regional government of Madrid has even announced plans to limit screen time in primary schools to two hours a week.
Some schools, like Waverley College and Sydney Grammar, have implemented tech-free weeks or resisted using computers in lessons, recognizing the importance of teacher-led instruction and traditional learning methods in the early years. University of Notre Dame professor Lorraine Hammond emphasizes the need for a focus on foundational skills in the first four years of schooling, such as oral language and handwriting, rather than relying heavily on iPads for learning. A study last year showed that handwriting can actually boost brain power more than typing.
Despite the trend towards digital literacy, some parents are apprehensive about the pressure to provide devices for their children at a young age. One parent, Aliza Hofbauer, was concerned about the cost and distraction that comes with having an iPad in her son’s bag for school. Some schools have implemented BYOD (bring your own device) policies, requiring students to bring their own devices to school for homework. This has led to concerns about distractions and the lack of standardization in policies across different schools.
Marist College North Shore, which has a BYOD policy, recently sent out a survey to parents to gather feedback on the use of devices in school. The school is also implementing “tech-free” days for year 2 students to balance the use of technology with traditional learning methods. Sydney Catholic Schools, which operates Marist College North Shore, aims to help students become confident and responsible users of technology while also reviewing and updating policies to create a balanced approach to technology use in the classroom.
While NESA acknowledges that schools are best placed to decide on the use of technology in classrooms based on their community needs, concerns remain about the impact of screen-heavy lessons and the lack of evidence supporting this shift in education. In response to these concerns, the NSW government has already banned mobile phones for all public school students starting in 2023, a policy that many private and Catholic schools have already adopted. As the debate over the role of technology in education continues, there is a growing recognition of the need for a thoughtful and balanced approach to integrating technology into the classroom.
