- Michael Bloomberg claims screens distracting students from witnessed learning methods
- Students take 20 minutes to focus after digital distractions
- True education happens through direct commitment to teacher students, not screens
Laptops are now common in US classrooms where almost 90% of schools supply devices to modernize education and prepare students for a digital future.
However, Michael R. Bloomberg, one of the world’s richest and most influential figures, has, as the founder and majority owner of the Bloomberg LP, has claimed the billions spent on these laptops for students, have not improved academics, shifted focus from traditional learning and raised concerns about rejecting results.
“As a person who built a company by developing a computer in dawn of the digital age, I never thought computers in the classroom were the cure for what Ails schools,” Bloomberg said.
‘Retrieving Books and Pens’ – A Call to Reconclaim Portable Use in the Classrooms
“Some of the most powerful educational interactions arise when a caring, well -educated teacher can look into the student’s eyes and help them see and understand new ideas,” he continued. “Machines often do not have that power.”
Bloomberg claims instead of increasing the addiction of screens, schools need to encourage students to spend more time reading, writing and engaging in direct interaction with teachers and peers.
Laptops for teachers can improve teaching, but Bloomberg acknowledges that although students laptops can be useful tools, they cannot replace the value of a well -educated teacher who manages students through meaningful learning experiences.
Studies show excessive use of laptop in classrooms leading to distraction, where students often take up to 20 minutes to focus again after participating in non-academic activities.
Despite widespread use of laptop, only 28% of eighth classings and 24% of 12 classes are skilled at math, while reading score remains low and American students continue to hang behind their international peers, raising doubts about the effectiveness of widespread portable adoption in schools.
While the best laptop for engineering students can support advanced calculations and specialized software, excessive screen time in general education has not translated into improved academic performance.
A post-pandemic study found over 25% of students spend at least five hours of classroom time daily on screens that often engage in educational games that do not build mastery. In contrast, time -tested methods such as reading physical books and writing by hand have been shown to improve the detention and understanding.
