Sweden Had Led the Way in Classroom Digitization, but Now Reverses Course

Digitization often feels like a one-way street. While digital tools—from desktop computers to wearables like smartwatches—are now woven into daily life, the Swedish education system has taken a different approach: reducing screen time in classrooms.

A shift in strategy. The shift began in May last year when Swedish Education Minister Lotta Edholm announced a strategic change for the National Board of Education, which had previously emphasized digital tools in schools.

The new plan specifically targets screen use in preschool education. According to The Guardian, the initiative includes eliminating digital education for children under age six. After the summer break, schools began implementing changes to reduce screen time in Swedish classrooms.

$157 million over three years. The rollback won’t come cheap. According to Le Monde, the Swedish government has allocated 1.68 billion Swedish kronor, or about $157 million, to implement the shift back to textbooks in classrooms.

Following the shift plan, the education system invested the first 685 million kronor (about $64 million) in 2023. It divided the remaining funds into two annual allocations of 500 million kronor (about $46.5 million each) for 2024 and 2025.

Concerns over reading comprehension. One argument critics have raised is the decline in Swedish students’ scores on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study in recent years. Some suggest this may be linked to reduced reading comprehension when reading on digital screens, an issue noted in a 2018 meta-analysis.

Critics argue that the rapid digitization of classrooms was driven by the idea that technology would inherently improve education. Although the policy shift has been led by Sweden’s conservative government, opponents also view the initial push for classroom digitization as rooted in a “neoliberal” approach.

Recently, UNESCO echoed these concerns, calling for the “appropriate use of technology” in education. This emphasis came in its 2023 Technology in Education report, which placed technology in education at the forefront.

Opposition to the measure. The call for caution doesn’t imply that digitization in the classroom is inherently negative, but the measure has its critics. Neil Selwyn, a professor of education at Monash University in Melbourne, noted that the initiative signals a commitment to traditional values. “The Swedish government does have a valid point when saying that there is no evidence for technology improving learning, but I think that’s because there is no straightforward evidence of what works with technology,” he told The Guardian.

The pros and cons. The debate should extend beyond simply weighing the pros and cons of introducing new technologies into education. It must focus on maximizing benefits while minimizing costs. This involves clearly defining the roles technology should play and understanding its limitations.

From screens to AI. While this approach may lead to gradual progress, it’s essential for governments to move forward. The introduction of AI tools has brought a new wave of change to education.

Many students are integrating resources like ChatGPT into their daily academic routines, and it seems unlikely that reducing screen time in classrooms will prevent them from doing so. This serves as just one example of how technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in education.

Image | Kelly Sikkema (Unsplash)

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