Start with This Habit for Effective Learning in the Digital Age!

Technology Development Harms Learners

When it was confirmed that COVID-19 spreads through contact, the Ministry of Education switched school classes from in-person to online. In many Korean households, where both parents work, it was difficult for children to study independently using a computer. Additionally, as children of the baby boomer generation became more familiar with digital devices and prioritized efficiency, parents became more accepting of digital learning.

As a result, students who grew up during the COVID-19 era scored relatively lower on basic academic tests. The Ministry of Education is now facing the challenge of addressing this issue and has introduced various policies, such as strengthening reading comprehension programs. Let’s explore the simplest and most effective way to solve this problem.

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Reduce the Habit of Reading Digital Documents

Students who rely heavily on digital devices for learning often struggle to achieve strong academic results. Technological advancements have made it easy to view and share documents using smartphones or tablets, even without a computer. Because of this, teachers at schools and academies increasingly provide learning materials in digital formats instead of paper. As students became more accustomed to digital documents, they relied more on passive reading rather than actively engaging with the material.

With the rise of e-books, workbooks have also transitioned into tablet applications, reducing the demand for traditional paper books. According to the Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), a 2022 study from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) found that the more Korean students used digital devices during class, the lower their math scores became. The study revealed that for every extra hour spent using digital devices, Korean students’ math scores dropped by three points—higher than the OECD average decline of two points. However, Korean students who turned off notifications on their digital devices during class scored 27 points higher in math than those who didn’t.

As these findings suggest, prioritizing efficiency through digital learning may actually hinder academic performance. Parents should encourage their children to develop analog learning habits instead of relying solely on digital methods.

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Writing by Hand Improves Learning More Than Typing

A research team led by Professor Audrey van der Meer at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) published a study in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology, showing that handwriting strengthens brain connectivity more than typing. The researchers stated, “When writing by hand, a consistent pattern of strong theta/alpha wave connectivity was observed between the parietal lobe—responsible for perception, cognition, and judgment—and the brain’s central neural network hub.”

Parents have long understood the benefits of handwriting. Moving one’s hands helps develop brain function, which is why many toys are designed to improve fine motor skills in young children. However, as children grow, parents often neglect to continue encouraging handwriting.

Since 2023, the rise of AI has brought major changes across industries worldwide. As AI users know, typing has become far more common than handwriting. Future learners exposed to AI and smartphones will write by hand even less, which may negatively impact learning efficiency. To enhance learning, it is beneficial to develop a habit of handwriting daily, such as copying texts in the morning. Cheongrang Learning Coaching recognizes the importance of handwriting and provides daily motivational quotes for students to copy in both English and Korean, helping them build strong foundational learning habits.

 

Technology has made life more convenient, but ironically,
it may also be making us less intelligent.

교육 정보 번역이 궁금하다면!

디지털 시대 학습은 이 습관부터 잡아라!