Written by Andrew Paterson

An increasing number of young people around the world have complete access to devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops whenever they want. These devices can be effective educational tools  for learning and collaborating but a lot of barriers have prevented their adoption by some families and schools.

Equity 

Differing levels of access by students from different socioeconomic backgrounds is a big concern in many communities. Schools might overcome this by providing a laptop but this may be wasteful if it duplicates what most students already have. Many schools in Indonesia will need extra support to ensure such access but whichever way we deliver it, it is time that we all recognise that access to basic technology for learning is no longer a luxury. Even in emerging economies, good access to the Internet and some kind of device at school should be considered as important as having a library, science lab or playground. If some students have access to devices for learning from Preschool but other students only get access from Secondary school, the former have an incredible learning advantage.

Screen Time and Balance

Concerns about screen time include the impact on eyes, the risk of addiction to the device and/or the potential loss of physical social interaction and activities that the device may substitute for. An interesting article about the health risks and how to overcome them is here. As with most parts of life, balance is the key to avoiding the most negative impacts. A great article on what parents can do to provide this balance is here. If you ever let your child travel in a car or go to the shopping mall or a friend’s house, you know that risks must be balanced with a need to allow young people some freedom to live and grow under responsible guidance. Technology use is no different.

Internet Dangers

Protecting young people from exposure to predators and age inappropriate sites requires using multiple strategies to minimise the risk. You will not be able to remove all risk unless you never allow your child out of your sight. Parental control software or hardware can be very helpful but not perfect if your child is motivated to find a workaround. Rules about only accessing the Internet at certain times with the door open and storing devices in public areas of the home are also good but not foolproof. Conversations with your children about the potential dangers and consequences as well as who they may interact with online are very important but not infallible.

Send your child to a school where devices are used positively and students are inspired to use them for learning while being taught about Internet safety, privacy and responsibility. This is an important backup for your efforts at home. A combination of strategies will minimise the risks that would come from total prohibition. Prohibition could harm your child’s learning and social interactions and fail to prepare them for the real world they will graduate into.