Gadgets, smart classes distract kids, say doctors

Chennai: The state government recently announced an allocation of Rs 60 crore for setting up smart classes and Rs 437 crore for high tech computers in government schools to popularise the idea of tech-savvy learning. Also, Greater Chennai Corporation announced the commencement of digital classes from next academic year.

But doctors say there is nothing to celebrate as Education Policy Institute (EPI) has quoted a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that stated that 37.5 per cent students aged 15 and less are extreme gadget users.

Psychological issues such as attention disorders, memory loss and depression are on a rise among students due to these factors.

In the meantime, smart classroom market has seen a growing trend from 5.36 per cent to 13.78 per cent and is supposed to grow at 15.89 per  cent over the next two years, says a recent analysis of TechNavio. But its influence can affect the sensory processing of a child that may result in losing cognitive ability like memory, language, talent development and decision-making ability.

“A study report by Common Sense Media earlier this year mentioned that the use of gadget in children has increased from 38 per cent to 72 per cent. With the rates of depression, anxiety and distraction seeing a rise of 70 per cent in last 25 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages tech use for children as it changes the nature of childhood,” said child psychologist Dr Jessie Raju.

Attention is one of the most important brain functions, but in the current era of tech savvy environment and information overload at schools, children are prone to distraction. Though smart classes, audio-visual classes and smart phone applications have modified the form of learning, they are leading to a decrease in the ability to focus among children, say psychologists.

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be able to make practical use of things they learn, rather than just being exposed to the virtual world. When a child is alert, his sensory actions improve and he can concentrate well in his natural environment. But gadgets and applications lead students to a different world, in which they lose connectivity from the social environment and stop responding to emotional stimuli.

“Though various applications are introduced to impart knowledge to the child, it overburdens them with information and gets them distracted. Information overload affects the sensory processing and reduces attention,” said Dr Keerthi Pai, clinical psychologist, Apollo Hospitals.

Numerous applications, gadgets and technologies to learn have imposed the practice of multi-tasking on children, thereby distracting them. “The media multi-tasking attitude of school children forces brain to perform two tasks simultaneously. When they switch from one activity to other, they lose attention capability,” said Dr Vivian Kapil, psychiatrist, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital.

He adds that multi-tasking makes children less efficient compromising the working memory. Many research studies testing multitasking on cognitive tests have yielded negative results.