The growing absence of non-digital alternatives to everyday tasks, like government services and health care, is contributing to digital dependence. This, in turn, affects people’s wellbeing.
UNESCO’s new report calls for corporate responsibility and stronger governance to regulate education technology.
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A new report from UNESCO analyzes the many challenges of the growing presence of technology in education and notes 14 per cent of countries have policies that ban mobile phones.
Academic performance improves when schools ban smartphones, research shows.
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Nir Kshetri, University of North Carolina – Greensboro
Sitting in the front row of a lecture hall could become obsolete as more colleges and universities enter the metaverse.
Freemium software in education exacerbates the digital divide for students who may be economically disadvantaged compared to their peers.
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A study compared students’ performance in schools that had banned mobiles and schools that hadn’t. They found students who weren’t allowed to use mobile phones in class had higher test scores.
As technology - and the data that drives it - becomes more integral in education, policies will need to shift.
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The Education Minister Dan Tehan has said research shows mobile phone bans have a positive effect on academic performance. But this is not necessarily true.
COVID has shown us how powerful educational uses of digital technology can be informal, impromptu and conducted on the fly.
Technologies like Virtual Reality can play a role in schools, but teachers must be properly empowered and involved.
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A clearer understanding of teachers’ needs is required if schools and universities are to be better prepared for a future where technology is key to teaching and learning.
The research around the benefits and risks of mobile phone use in classrooms is mixed.
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The role of the school library has evolved. Today’s school library goes beyond providing books. It must include teaching children digital literacy and how to critically evaluate information online.
Technology, when used right, can enhance learning for students.
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Kate M. Miltner, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Past efforts to teach American students computer skills haven’t always helped workers get better-paying jobs. But spending on hardware and software for schools has certainly enriched tech companies.
Computers aren’t a magical silver bullet for learning.
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Professor of Adolescent Health The University of Melbourne; Director, Royal Children's Hospital Centre for Adolescent Health, The University of Melbourne