'Only technology that has a clear role in supporting learning should be allowed in school," UNESCO stated in a recent report about the use of smartphones in classrooms.
Research shows again and again that it doesn’t work that way. Smartphones are tools at work or in university. For children they are neither useful nor necessary in school.
Getting rid of pen and paper also isn’t something we should advance in school as hand writing also helps the cognitive learning process.
As someone who is left handed and was always downgraded for sloppy penmanship, I bitterly seethe at the notion and resent every educator who inflicted handwritten essays on me.
There are also devices that translate handwriting to digital documents. You have them searchable, editable and safe.
While I agree that you don’t need mobile phones in the classroom (you can organize stuff later), they are necessary to organize life. Also schools already use email, share documents and appointments digitally.
That said, I cannot live without my calendars, emails, quick access to important documents and family chat I use daily. I can absolutely live without a pen. The only time I really need it is when my (non-digital) signature is needed.
Research shows again and again that it doesn’t work that way. Smartphones are tools at work or in university. For children they are neither useful nor necessary in school.
Getting rid of pen and paper also isn’t something we should advance in school as hand writing also helps the cognitive learning process.
As someone who is left handed and was always downgraded for sloppy penmanship, I bitterly seethe at the notion and resent every educator who inflicted handwritten essays on me.
There are also devices that translate handwriting to digital documents. You have them searchable, editable and safe.
While I agree that you don’t need mobile phones in the classroom (you can organize stuff later), they are necessary to organize life. Also schools already use email, share documents and appointments digitally.
That said, I cannot live without my calendars, emails, quick access to important documents and family chat I use daily. I can absolutely live without a pen. The only time I really need it is when my (non-digital) signature is needed.