Technology and Classroom Behavior

Technology Use is Impacting Primary School Education -

The Education Crisis

Generation Alpha is facing a, "once in a century," education crisis. Generation Alpha encompasses any child born from 2010 to 2025, if you have a child experiencing this crisis, learn more about mitigating gaps in education, mental disorders, and behavioral issues - click here.

Increase in Technology Use Post Pandemic

52%

Impacts on Academic Function

Where do the Behavorial Issues Arise?

According to the national center for Education Statistics, the percentage of teachers leaving the profession has remained consistent at 8% from 2012 to 2021, and yet the same organization has also reported an increase of staffing issues going into the 2023-2024 school year, specifically in elementary schools. The staffing issues pertain to aids that assist in classroom management, special education teachers, and mental health professionals. Where is this sudden demand for these positions coming from? This information indicates a behavioral crisis rampant in elementary schools as well, (Press Release, 2023) - Learn more here.

"Evidence from research related to screen time interventions has emphasized strategies for individuals to decrease and limit screen use. The rise in screen time during the pandemic is concerning, and public health may have a role in promoting messages to parents and caregivers with concrete, practical ways to curb or limit children’s screen use."(Toombs 2022).

A Important Message from Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table - See their data here

More ScreenTime

In a study published by Biomed Central, they found a high association between problematic smartphone use and school performance, and quality of life. Their findings support the Displacement Theory, the theory that suggests high technology use displaces other beneficial activities like studying, play, outside time, etc

(Kliesener 2022).

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Further Info/Paragraph

Current Psychology issued a report in 2022 investigating School Refusal Behavior among adolescents. SRB refers to the distressing circumstance that causes a child to reject school either by attendance issues, lack of participation, or poor academic standing. 40% of their population exhibiting SRB reported excessive use of the internet, and 40% also had higher symptoms of anxiety and depression and higher difficulties in social or academic settings as well. This data supports the idea that problematic technology use amongst children worsens behavioral issues and academic success is threatened,

(Gonzálvez 2020).

There's also some evidence that indicates technology use can actually improve the cognitive skills of children as well.This is true, but the study we're referring to has some boundaries to it that provide further context of where the benefit comes from.The children in this study that benefitted from technology use worked alongside a technology guide, and only worked with the technology is short increments daily. ]This practice is far different than how most children are interacting with tech now, and doesn't accurately repersent what we're referring to when we mention unhygenic technology habits

(Linebarger 2010).

This 2022 study by Jama Pediatrics found a 52% increase in screen time in children post-pandemic, including recreational and educational use. While most demographics' screentime increased over the course of the pandemic, with children it's a much more complex issue that can impair social interaction and function. The article highlights the importance of teaching your children healthy habits with technology and using it appropriately, (Madigan 2022).Reading, crafting, or playing outside are good alternatives to screen-time entertainment for children. Of course, some breaks with a tablet or television are fine, but when a child exceeds the one-hour time frame in a day, that's when negative effects begin showing. Averaging three hours or more, symptoms can become severe, (Madigan 2022).

Remote learning due to pandemic lockdowns could've been a catalyst for this dramatic increase in technology use in children's day-to-day lives. While technology certainly aided the world through a time of such uncertainty, now it is time to tend to unhealthy habits created during the pandemic.In this excerpt from the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, a study was done in 2022 that found a positive correlation between problematic technology use in children, and higher anxiety levels. The authors explain that adolescent brains are vulnerable to developing mental disorders, so protecting them during this time frame is vital. With technology use in children going unchecked, that's where we see these mental health issues arise, and thus issues with behavior, cognitive function, and learning develop as well, (Luergo-Gonzalez 2023).

Click on the image below to see the negative symptoms of excessive screen-time found by the Ontario Science Advisory

With the stay at home orders, turning to screens for entertainment was a natural reaction. Many parents report utilizing tablets or television to preoccupy their child allowed them time to tend to chores around the house or work themselves. The Ontario Science Advisory Table acknowledges this fact in their public health article, but also urges parents to notice the negative side effects of excessive screentime. Children below age five were found to struggle with hyperactivity, inatttention, depression, and anxiety, when over-using technology,

Results of Pandemic Tech Use

(Toombs 2022).

These side effects are setting primary-aged children up to struggle with the adjustment back to in-person learning and struggle with literacy development, or social development as well.

Additionally, in an article published by Elsevier, they found primary children who were often given a device to mitigate crying, were much more likely to express emotional reactivity, tantrums, and lack of emotional regulation. When parents or care givers allow devices to comfort their child during normal times of distress, this creates mental connections in the child's brain that can be damaging later on, like in a school setting. It will disrupt their attention span and their ability to resolve internal conflicts, (Coyne 2021). The inability to self-regulate could also greatly impact a child's ability to connect with others and form valuable social interactions. If a child is unable to play and connect with classmates, it begs the question, could this also be a factor challenging their learning?

We've established that there's been a significant increase in technology use amongst adolescents, but is that affecting their behavior?In this study by Frontiers in Psychiatry, they concluded "technology use is associated with a negative impact on children's sleep and behavior. Owning a digital device, using tablets, screen viewing for more than 3-5 h, and watching movies were significantly associated with negative child's behavior and sleep." (NewsRx 2021).If the research shows that there are potentially harmful symptoms from excessive media use in children, like behavioral issues, could this be impacting their ability to learn in a classroom?

Impact on behavior