Be careful when letting children use tablets

It is necessary to distinguish two types of devices currently on the market: tablets with pre-installed textbooks, teaching and learning applications and electronic educational tools.

The same pen is used to write, but at each level of education there are different needs and uses. The same goes for tablets.

In primary school, especially in the early grades, the use of tablets is very limited. It is just a supplementary support tool, even like a technological toy.

Using tablets too early and the consequences

Just talking about one thing is practicing writing. In the early years of primary school, students need to learn to write neatly and beautifully.

It is no coincidence that educators from ancient times and from East to West have considered teaching children to write extremely important - the key to a lifetime of learning later on.

Practicing calligraphy is not simply about writing correctly and beautifully, but also about cultivating character (being patient, meticulous, having a sense of aesthetics...).

AIC Group tablet named Smart Education with 7.85 inch screen with 1024x768 resolution, dual core CPU, 8GB storage, 3Mp main camera, 2Mp secondary camera, WiFi network connection, 3,600mAh battery, Android operating system.

AIC Group tablet named Smart Education with 7.85 inch screen with 1024x768 resolution, dual core CPU, 8GB storage, 3Mp main camera, 2Mp secondary camera, WiFi network connection, 3,600mAh battery, Android operating system.

Since the advent of personal computers, even people who used to have beautiful handwriting have now become so used to using computers that their handwriting is as bad as a chicken scratch. Therefore, the idea of ​​letting children practice writing on tablets or interactive whiteboards is unthinkable.

Why have students been encouraged to copy notes, or at least a summary of the lesson? Because when students copy notes like this, they focus more on the lesson and remember it longer.

It is also a method to train and develop human memory from a young age. Therefore, using computer memory instead of human memory is more harmful than beneficial.

Tablets can be used by children at any age, but only as a toy. Using a tablet as a formal learning tool requires a certain age, as researched and recommended by experts.

There are countless consequences that adults can foresee due to children abusing computers of all kinds. First of all, the eyes will be severely affected with a higher risk of eye diseases such as refraction, dry eyes...

Then there are the dangerous radiations that come from close and frequent contact with electronic devices. High school students, even university students, are vulnerable to theft or robbery of their computers, let alone elementary school students!

The most important thing is the screen.

Not all tablets are suitable for students. In developed countries, all children's equipment must meet specific standards.

Tablets are audiovisual devices, which have even more stringent standards.

The University of Kentucky in the US sets the minimum standards for student tablets as having a dual-core 1.3GHz CPU or Apple A5; 32GB storage; 802.11n WiFi wireless connection; a USB port and, if possible, an HDMI port for easy connection to a large screen, projector or interactive board.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Education (USA) has just issued technology guidelines for schools to be applied until the 2018-2019 school year: Tablets must have a screen of 9.5 inches or larger with a minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels; RAM of at least 1GB; running Android 4.0 operating system or higher...

They note that tablets with screens smaller than 9.5 inches are not acceptable for students.

Of all the components of a tablet, the most important is the screen. Manufacturers can save money wherever they want, but they cannot compromise on the quality of the screen.

The screen must be of high quality, with accurate colors, good contrast and brightness, sharp, wide viewing angle and less harmful to the eyes.

If OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology cannot be used because it is too expensive, the screen must at least use an IPS panel with LED backlight technology. Especially for children who are active, the screen must be sturdy.

Other configurations are the CPU is at least dual-core to be both powerful and support multitasking well; the lowest RAM is also 1GB (if running Windows operating system, you need 2GB RAM); internal storage from 8GB or more (if running Windows, you need 32GB or more); support for external memory cards.

Must have 802.11b/n WiFi wireless connection. Have microphone and speaker. Have relatively good cameras on both sides.

Should choose smart school model

It is necessary to distinguish two types of devices currently on the market: tablets with additional textbooks and teaching and learning applications installed; and electronic educational tools.

With a regular tablet, anyone can install additional textbooks and educational apps that they purchase.

As for e-educational tools (including e-textbooks), the device must have its own user interface and appropriate management features.

With this second device, students are only allowed to use pre-installed educational content and perform tasks authorized by their parents or teachers (i.e., controlled).

In my humble opinion, in the current conditions of Vietnam, do not rush to set the goal of using tablets to replace textbooks and teaching and learning tools in schools. Even developed and rich countries do not dare to dream of such a thing.

Tablets or e-learning tools should remain an optional aid. No one would object to special schools (such as private schools for high-income parents) using tablets for teaching and learning as a unique feature of their school and acceptable to parents.

How and to what extent this tool is applied is another matter. No one denies the useful features of electronic textbooks and electronic learning tools. But no one compares electronic textbooks to and denies traditional textbooks.

If I had to choose, I would still prefer the smart school model, where teachers and students can access modern technology to improve the quality of their teaching and learning.

In addition, the State should have programs to develop high-quality electronic educational tools at the lowest possible price to create conditions for many students to have access to modern tools and be connected with the community.

According to Zing.vn