A brain expert says that concentration on computers in schools is a waste of time and money and has called for a return to books.
Edinburgh University brain scientist Professor Sergio Della Sala has dismissed a claim that computer games consoles can improve pupils’ maths ability and said that pupils’ performance was just as good when using traditional textbooks.
Governments all over the world have been falling over themselves to use computers in lessons, particularly in math classes, because of a myth that they help a child learn.
However, Professor Della Sala told Scotland’s headteachers at their annual conference that research shows that when pupils in a school use a games console, after ten weeks they become a bit better at math. However, the same applied to the students who did not use the console.
He said that teachers who are bombarded with these new flim-flam initiatives about how they should improve their teaching is they are good professionals, they should resist.
Della Sala said that the study shows there is no advantage, so why should we spend money on finding out more rather than spending money on good teaching and good learning?”
Printed books were first developed in the 16th century as a non interactive format long term storage device. They have been being progressively replaced by interactive electronic formats which last five minutes.
