Computers may be the future, but they are killing children’s reading ability.
A new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development published on Tuesday showed that there is a negative correlation between the use of computers at school and children’s reading ability in developed countries including the U.S., Germany, and China.
“Overall, the use of computers does not seem to confer a specific advantage in online reading. Even specific online reading skills do not benefit from high levels of computer use at school,” the report stated.
The study found that the best readers were the ones who used computers slightly less than average.
Children who used the computer more than once or twice a week saw a decline in their reading abilities, and this is especially true for those who used computers to chat with their friends over browsing and emailing.
Internet and computers have a negative effect because the amount of time children spend learning how to use the computer is time they’re not spending on their reading skills. Emailing is less harmful than text messages because it involves reading and processing for a longer period.
Computers are also stunting children’s ability to process thoughts and research answers, the study concluded.
“Students are cutting and pasting answers instead of finding them,” said Andreas Schleicher, OECD’s director of education and lead author of the study.
Nations like Singapore with over-performing schools are more cautious about introducing technology in the classroom.
“In most countries, the current use of technology is already past the point of optimal use in schools,” Schleicher said. “We’re at a point where computers are actually hurting learning.”
(h/t Washington Post)
