This article originally appeared on Vulcan Post.
These days, it’s not uncommon for kids as young as primary-schoolers to be lugging around laptops and tablets in their school bags. Some might use these gadgets as an optional supplement to text and assessment books, but for others, it’s a mandatory addition required by their schools.
When the use of technology was first implemented in schools, the Ministry of Education had to respond to concerns over how this could distract young students from actual studying. They explained that “MOE invests in ICT to support teaching and learning in schools, to ensure that students are well prepared for the future working environment…MOE ensures that the use of ICT in teaching and learning is done in pedagogically sound and age-appropriate ways.”
But it seems that the use of computers is not as beneficial as we might think.
Today, The Straits Times released an article about a study done by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The results of the study found that the use of computers and technology in the classroom does not help to better student performance. Singaporean students who rarely used the Internet for schoolwork were also found to do best at a digital reading test in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), which is conducted by the OECD once every three years.
OECD director for education and skills Andreas Schleicher said, “Essentially, intensity of computer use is negatively related to learning outcomes.” He added, however, that this does not mean that the use of technology is all bad, but rather, that “a more effective approach” needs to be found.
What does this mean for startups in the education space?
The MOE responded to the results of the survey, agreeing that technology alone will not be enough to help students. They also shared that this is why they’ve focused their efforts on value-adding students’ education with the help of their teachers. And this makes sense: teaching, after all, is a process that requires a strong human element to work effectively.
But more than the debate that is sure to begin now about whether technology is more of a boon or bane, is the question of how the online industry catering to education will be affected.
In recent years, numerous startups have been launched to take advantage of the ease of access to the Internet that more students are having. These range from those like Tutate — which offers digital assessment books, to admittedly more frivolous ones like Homework Gods. They operate on the basis that more students are seeking help online, so a study like this could well affect their popularity, especially if parents are keen on reducing the amount of time that their children spend online.
When we asked Yi Ming Kau of Tutate what the effects of this study could have on educational startups like his, and he shared that the design of tech tools in this industry is especially important. He explained, “the design of the product must consider the role of the supervisor, be it teacher or parent, to fully harness the benefits of technology. We kept this as a design principle in building Tutate where we seek to empower the teachers.” He also added: “As the next generation becomes more familiar with technology, the demand for it in education will continue to grow. I believe the real question then will be what is the right kind of technology for education rather than how much technology to introduce.”
Ultimately, whether or not these startups will be able to remain relevant depends on what parents (and therefore students) seek in their use of technology: convenience is a big part of what tech can offer, and with students becoming more and more busy these days, there is a big draw for them to begin searching for help online. On the other hand, the risk of getting distracted is something that’s always going to be a consideration for students and parents.
Either way, we’re pretty sure the Homework Gods aren’t going to be very pleased.