Subj : Re: Screens Distract Stud
To   : KURT WEISKE
From : Mike Powell
Date : Fri Mar 28 2025 10:21:00

>  MP> "Some of the most powerful educational interactions occur when a
>  MP> caring, well-trained teacher can look into a students eyes and help
>  MP> them see and understand new ideas," he went on. "Machines often dont
>  MP> have that power."

>  He must be calling on his experiences in public school.

That was at times also my experience also in public school.  I also believe
that was a different time, though.  If for no other reason, it was
pre-COVID.

>  MP>  Laptops for teachers can enhance instruction, but Bloomberg
>  MP> acknowledges that, while student laptops can be useful tools, they
>  MP> cannot replace the value of a well-trained educator guiding students
>  MP> through meaningful learning experiences.

>  How many students in a classroom can a teacher provide meaningful
>  experiences on a daily basis - 25? 30? 35?

In a public school classroom where kids don't have as many reprocussions
for acting up, I would say 25 at the most.  I am not sure what the average
class size is these days for grade school, but I suspect it is larger than
that.

>  MP> Studies show excessive laptop use in classrooms leads to distraction,
>  MP> with students often taking up to 20 minutes to refocus after engaging
>  MP> in non-academic activities.

>  That's a discipline problem, not a laptop problem. Kids will find all
>  sorts of ways to distract themselves. I preferred passing notes,
>  myself.

I partially agree.  OTOH, if they are interacting with a laptop vs. paying
attention to a human, it is easier to engage in distraction if you are not
worried about getting caught... the laptop isn't going to call them out for
it.

>  MP> Despite widespread laptop use, only 28% of eighth graders and 24% of
>  MP> 12th graders are proficient in math, while reading scores remain low,
>  MP> and US students continue to lag behind their international peers,
>  MP> raising doubts about the effectiveness of widespread laptop adoption in
>  MP> schools.

> Correlation does not imply causation. This merits more research.

It does merit more research.

>  MP> A post-pandemic survey found over 25% of students spend at least five
>  MP> hours of classroom time daily on screens, often engaging in educational
>  MP> games that fail to build mastery. In contrast, time-tested methods like
>  MP> reading physical books and writing by hand have been shown to improve
>  MP> retention and comprehension.

> That I can agree with.

That is the part that connected with me the most.  I notice this in my
adult self.


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