2023-09-24 09:14:53
[밀물썰물] The Paradox of Digital Education Posted: 2023-09-24 18:14:53 Editorial Writer Lim Gwang-myeong kmyim@busan.com It is a sight to see children typing on the computer keyboard these days. It is barely struck with the index fingers of both hands. This is the so-called eagle batting method. There are many children who are embarrassed when asked to submit their assignments via email. I don’t know how to write documents or send documents by email. You might say, “What are you talking regarding in today’s smart world?”, but it is said to be something teachers often see in their classrooms. This is because mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs have become mainstream in the digital environment instead of personal computers (PCs). Unlike PCs where you have to manually tap the keyboard, everything on mobile devices can be done with just a few movements of your fingers. There was no need to hold a pencil before, but now that we have become a world where even typing on a keyboard has disappeared, there is nothing to criticize regarding children’s typing skills. It was in the early 1990s that computers began to be distributed to schools. Now, 30 years later, the digital education environment is a world away from then. Now, it has gone beyond mobile and voice recognition to artificial intelligence (AI) such as Chat GPT. In terms of speed of change, Korea is by far the best. An example is that the Ministry of Education has decided to introduce digital textbooks in elementary, middle, and high schools starting in 2025. Korea is the first country to take the initiative and push for the introduction of digital textbooks for all students. According to the Ministry of Education, there are many advantages of digital textbooks. It is said that not only is it possible to provide customized learning for each student, but it is also possible to have AI take on the role of an assistant teacher. However, Sweden has recently taken measures that are 180 degrees different from ours. They announced a plan to completely stop using digital devices in kindergartens and other schools and to strengthen education on reading paper books and writing directly in schools. The Swedish government has decided to allocate a separate budget of 70 to 80 billion won each year to purchase school books. It’s not just Sweden. France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Finland have also taken measures to restrict the use of digital devices during classes. Is our choice right? Are their measures desirable? It’s confusing, but I’m concerned regarding the claims made by American cognitive scientist Marion Wolf. It is argued that the brains of modern people have changed as they entered the digital generation. As we try to adapt to an environment in which information that changes every moment pours indiscriminately, our brains are always tense, and because we have to quickly grasp and use only the key information, we are unable to think deeply and for a long time. There is a reason why children these days cannot read books properly and have difficulty communicating with others. This is a paradox of digital education. Editorial Writer Lim Gwang-myeong kmyim@ Editorial Writer Lim Gwang-myeong kmyim@busan.com
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