Pisa study shows Switzerland lagging behind in the use of digital devices
According to the Pisa study, Switzerland still lags behind the average of OECD countries in the use of digital devices at school. However, the academic performance of those who use digital devices is statistically worse than those who do not.
However, this result should be interpreted with caution when assessing the actual impact of the use of information and communication technology on school performance, according to the report of the Conference of Education Directors on the Pisa report. The way in which digital devices are used in the classroom is also likely to play a decisive role.
Digital devices, if students used them for activities unrelated to learning the subject, such as chatting with friends or surfing the Internet, could become a distraction factor, with a reduction in actual learning time.
This assumption also seems to be confirmed by the Pisa data: The students who performed significantly better in the tested areas were also the ones who stated that digital devices were only used by teachers in the classroom. If, on the other hand, digital devices were only used by students, this was associated with the lowest performance.
Despite investments in recent years, there is still a need for action in Switzerland with regard to the use of digital devices. It is important not to act with one-off special budgets, but to invest continuously in the use of digital technologies in schools. The focus should not only be on the purchase of equipment, but also on the training and continuing education of teachers and the creation of innovative teaching materials, the report continues. (SDA)
