Commentators often pit books against computers as the best learning tools, but both are great in different circumstances. This debate diverts attention from the real problem of education – poverty.
The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates said that writing things down would make people forgetful. Now, thousands of years later, we are in the fortunate position of being able to discuss Socrates’ thinking, precisely because it was written down.
Commentators often say that the written word – books – is bad at best and that computers have a negative impact on learning, for much the same reasons that Socrates was against writing things down: forgetfulness, when memory is the cornerstone of learning. You may wonder: What complaints do people have about new technologies?
As more and more classrooms shift from print to digital books and other materials, researchers are looking at the impact it is having on children’s learning.
The field is new and the evidence is mixed – there is no scientific consensus on whether books or digital tools are better for a child’s education.
For example, a study conducted in primary schools in Honduras found that using laptops in place of textbooks ultimately made no difference to students’ learning – it was neither positive nor negative.
But isn’t it common sense that both forms of learning – print and digital – may or may not be effective depending on the individual and the situation? Let’s dive a little deeper.
Early education rewires the brain
It is important to consider neuroscience here because it can help teachers choose which tools to use at different stages of a child’s development.
And neuroscientists have shown us that learning, and forming memories, physically rewires the brain.
The brain is “plastic” – it grows and forms connections between neurons as we form memories, learn and forget. This is true at all ages, but the brain is especially plastic during childhood.
The plasticity of the brain largely depends on our experiences and environment.
Studies have shown that the richer our learning environment during childhood, the more “content” we learn – but we also change the way our brains learn new things throughout life.
The best example here is language learning. Children learn another language much more easily than adults, because their brains are more flexible.
Additionally, adults who learn two languages in childhood can learn a third language much faster than adults who only learned one language in childhood – their brains are trained to learn languages.
On the other end of the spectrum, sensory deprivation during childhood permanently changes the brain for the worse. Children deprived of a variety of experiences – for example less touch and interaction with adults, fewer sights and sounds, and less access to learning – may develop smaller brains. These changes often cannot be reversed until later in life.
Benefits of Rich Learning Experiences
What does this mean for education? Children should be exposed to both digital and physical learning tools as much as possible.
It may mean turning to books and writing to build lasting knowledge on something.
Studies show that the act of writing requires the brain to be an active participant in the note-taking process, but the brain is less active when typing, so writing by hand commits more material to memory.
Or using a digital learning platform could mean a much richer experience: animated films, reward-based educational apps, virtual classrooms, and a richness of AI tools like ChatGPT to motivate students to learn in interactive ways.
Research shows that digital technology is effective in enhancing literacy and numeracy skills, manual dexterity and visuospatial working memory when used in a learning context.
Its beneficial results impact all areas of a child’s learning, including language, functional literacy, mathematics, science, general knowledge, creative thinking – the list goes on.
Computer: effects on physical and mental health
There are also negative aspects associated with digital technologies. Some studies suggest that computers can have a negative impact on attention, and that children use computers passively rather than as active learning tools that engage the brain. But it is not yet clear whether these negative effects are short-term or long-term.
Some studies also show that excessive use of computers affects physical and mental health. But it may have more to do with sitting in one place for long periods of time rather than the computer.
That’s why running outside or kicking a ball is important for children’s development and also their academic performance.
The real issue in education is poverty
Many factors play a role in a child’s education. Their home environment is as important as the materials and tools they use to learn. One of the biggest problems in education is poverty – low access to books and computers.
This issue became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when children from disadvantaged backgrounds had less access to computers or books at home during school closures.
For example, a UK-based survey found that a third of students in deprived areas did not have adequate access to home learning devices during the pandemic.
This resulted in a decline in their academic performance. According to studies, learning outcomes among high-school aged children have declined in recent years, and this is more due to socio-economic factors than anything else. This is a trend seen around the world and has been linked to less access to rich educational tools.
