The Galesburg Community School District is bucking the trend of increasing technology integration by significantly reducing its reliance on one-to-one devices for students. Starting next school year, only high school students will continue with individual technology learning, while all other grades will transition to shared devices, prioritizing direct teacher-student engagement over screen time.
Key Takeaways
- Galesburg schools are moving away from one-to-one technology for all grades except high school.
- The decision aims to improve student attention spans, academic performance, and foster more human interaction.
- Reduced technology use is also expected to offer budgetary benefits.
A Shift Back to Traditional Education
Superintendent John Asplund explained that the district embraced technology extensively, perhaps without fully considering its potential negative impacts on students. He noted that teachers have observed a decline in students’ attention spans and a decrease in academic performance, particularly in reading and math scores, correlating with increased screen time.
"We just really kind of embraced (technology) to the point where we didn’t stop to think what the impact of that could be on the students in a negative way," Asplund stated.
Addressing Academic Concerns
The district has been gradually scaling back its technology initiatives over the past few years. One-to-one learning has already been removed from elementary schools, and this change will extend to middle schools next year. While technology will still be utilized in classrooms, its use will be at the teacher’s discretion, employing shared devices rather than individual ones.
"Let’s take a step back and get back to what we used to do in education and have more human interaction," Asplund urged.
Budgetary and Pedagogical Benefits
Beyond the pedagogical reasons, the move away from extensive technology also presents financial advantages for the district. The rising cost of maintaining and replacing laptops each year has become a significant expense. By reducing the number of devices, the district anticipates savings that can help ensure the continued employment of its staff.
Asplund believes that Galesburg is pioneering a shift that other school districts may eventually adopt. "People have seen that a full-fledged embrace of technology in all aspects of education is not a good idea," he commented, suggesting that this approach to education will become more widespread.
Sources
- Galesburg schools turn away from technology, OurQuadCities.
- John Asplund on turning away from technology at Galesburg schools – WHBF – OurQuadCities.com, OurQuadCities.
