IS IT EFFECTIVE?

Failed Promise - The Ed Tech industry promised big things – closing the achievement gap, differentiated learning, transformative classroom experiences – but this experiment has largely failed our children. Learning from skilled teachers and using old school materials (books, pencil and paper, manipulatives) offer better outcomes, comprehension, and retention than does screen-based learning.

Scant and Sketchy Evidence - A 2023 UNESCO report states, “There’s little robust evidence on digital tech’s added value in education. Tech evolves faster than it is possible to evaluate it…a lot of evidence comes from those trying to sell it.”

Shallow Engagement - From the Ed Tech Law Center: “Instead of teaching uninterrupted focus and deep work, (the educational technology platform) scatters their attention across engagement-driven features designed to promote shallow but sustained interaction with the platform.” Maximum engagement, not student learning, is how educational technology companies make their money.

Time Terribly Spent - One study found that 38 out of every 60 minutes spent on student laptops are spent off-task.

Extrinsic Rewards vs. Intrinsic Motivation - Many of these apps/products “gamefy” learning and employ extrinsic rewards (e.g. tokens, badges, digital praise). “Perhaps the most dangerous result [of this practice] is that it often diminishes students’ intrinsic motivation to learn…Gamification also encourages kids to take the quickest route to the reward–which can come at the expense of actually learning the material” (Freed 115-116). It cheapens learning and subjugates students’ curiosity.

IS IT SAFE OR GOOD FOR CHILDREN?

Pornography - 41% of students ages 13-17 who participated in a Common Sense Media survey reported seeing pornography during the school day; 44% of these teens reported viewing pornography on school-owned devices.
YouTube and other algorithmically mediated apps provide exposure to violent and inappropriate content.

Experience blockers - Device use leads to decreased human interaction and decreased self selection of activities, both of which are linked to worsening sense of self and social and mental wellbeing.

Skill blockers - Students in a tech dominated education environment have greatly reduced opportunities to develop the most human and necessary skills. “Various soft (human) skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, analytical skills, collaboration and relationship building, are often the ones most vital in digitalizing economies.” Current employers are telling us that new grads are often missing these skills.

IS IT LEGAL?

Consent Problems - Ongoing class action lawsuits are challenging the very legality of Ed Tech platforms – specifically their business models and their tendency to circumvent parental consent. In a case against PowerSchool, a judge recently sided with the plaintiffs, asserting that school systems CANNOT give consent on behalf of parents because consent must be both informed and voluntary.
Data Harvesting - Companies participate in algorithmic profiling of their users and sell that data; 96% of Ed Tech apps are selling data to third parties