What's up with Waldorf Education's tech approach?
According to a recent article on Parents.com, “A 2016 study found that college students spend more class time than ever using smartphones and other devices. The study found that, on average, students check their phones and other devices more than 11 times a day. And it is not just a glance to see if someone is trying to reach them. Instead, they spend up to 20% of their classroom time engaging in the following: Texting, Emailing, Surfing the web, Checking social media and Playing games”
The slew of media coverage around the impact and distraction of tech in the classroom are endless. From the New York Times to the Atlantic to the Guardian to the Washington Post the stories and opinions keep rolling in but the consensus is clear: devices in the classroom cause distractions and phone-free environments are more supportive for learning, connection and engagement.
According to Social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt, schools and communities need to follow 4 key guidelines to changing the norm when it comes to tech (source, CNN)
No. 1: No smartphones before high school. We must clear them out of middle school and elementary school. Just let kids have a flip phone or phone watch when they become independent.
No. 2: No social media until 16. These platforms were not made for children. They appear to be especially harmful for children. We must especially protect early puberty since that is when the greatest damage is done.
No. 3: Phone-free schools. There’s really no argument for letting kids have the greatest distraction device ever invented in their pockets during school hours. If they have the phones, they will be texting during class, and they will be focused on their phones. If they don’t have phones, they will listen to their teachers and spend time with other kids.
No. 4: More independence, free play and responsibility in the real world. We need to roll back the phone-based childhood and restore the play-based childhood.
What’s the Waldorf Education approach to tech?
WSRF has been a phone-free campus for over 30 years (since our founding in 1991). This means while many schools, including those in our local area are scrambling to figure out how to have a distraction-free environment, on our campus, this is the norm. Students are not allowed to have phones or smart devices on campus or use them at any pint during class time, eliminating potential distractions from tech. Plus: our lunch times, recess times and everything in between aro opportunities for connection for our students. Real conversations and real human interactions are the core of our campus life for students.
Because we understand and believe technology and media are prevalent and important forces in the world today, we introduce our three-year Cyber Civics program starting in 6th grade. Students begin working with technology as a tool, while learning to question and navigate ethical, responsible technology use and media engagement.
You can explore a full overview of our unique tech approach and find more resources on the page here.
Ready to start a conversation around how our phone-free campus could support your family?
