Almost 1000 NSW teachers were asked if screens helped students learn. Only 53 per cent said yes
New research from Macquarie University indicates that NSW teachers are struggling with student distraction caused by excessive screen use. In response, the NSW government has implemented strict caps on daily screen time for younger students.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing global policy shift toward limiting digital integration in classrooms to improve student focus and mental health.
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Share A A A School students are failing to regulate their use of screens and devices both in and outside the classroom as teachers say digital distraction is detrimental to pupils’ focus and their interactions with peers.
Landmark research into screen use commissioned by the NSW government has found usage explodes once students reach the upper years of high school, with pupils spending more than seven hours on screens for schoolwork, social media and playing games.
The NSW government last month capped screen time in schools to as little as 15 minutes a day for the youngest students – a sharp reversal of decades of policies that have seen more technology embedded into classrooms in a bid to bolster digital literacy and better prepare students for the future.
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