In a recent blog, I spoke about the compelling research of Jonathon Haidt and his work titled The Anxious Generation’. Another article, published more recently in the Sydney Morning Herald, again addresses the concerning link between technology use and Australia’s falling educational standards.

As a country, our heavy investment in technology has not improved our Reading, Mathematics or Science scores, as reflected in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Australians are among the highest global users of digital devices, averaging four hours per day. Additionally, 40 percent of school students are reporting distractions in Mathematics lessons due to digital devices.

The latest PISA report correlates excessive weekday screen time with up to 20 points lower Mathematics scores. The SMH article again raises the reduction in attention spans of students and the concerns leading educators have in relation to excessive time online.

Currently the Australian Government screen time recommendations are as follows: children younger than two years – no screen time; children aged two to five years – no more than one hour per day; and children and young people aged five to seventeen years – no more than two hours per day excluding schoolwork. However, we know that the time spent on devices is far higher than these recommendations.

The article emphasises the need for a balanced approach to technology in education, highlighting the potential negative impacts of excessive screen time on academic performance and the importance of continuing to teach digital literacy skills, including self-regulation. I can’t help but to think we are also losing, as a society, an implicit understanding of the importance of sport and physical movement in promoting academic success. As concentration levels go down, numerous studies highlight the importance of movement for improving cognitive function.

As young people live increasingly sedentary lives, sport and movement provide a necessary balance. Watching our Primary students on Wednesday afternoons at sport or seeing a team of Senior girls working together, I am constantly reminded – even though they may not be aware – of the psychological and social skills they are gaining that are so translatable from sport to the classroom and life.

Over the coming months I want us all to have conversations at School and at home that continue the discussion about screen time. I’ll certainly be talking with our staff about this. How would our students go with a completely technology-free day at school? What impact would this have on our staff? Perhaps now we have reached a tipping point, and if we are to teach students to genuinely learn to manage screen time, the research is there to support the improvement in learning outcomes.

Reference article: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/how-much-screen-time-is-too-much-this-is-the-answer-to-every-parent-s-question-20240530-p5jhw0.html