Educational Thoughts
Finding Focus: Why MCS Prioritises Pen-and-Paper Learning
Having resisted the digitisation of education over the past decade, Manukau Christian School remains firmly committed to pen-and-paper based education and the cognitive and character benefits to students.
At Manukau Christian School, we forge academic achievement and character through a deliberate, unashamed commitment to pen-and-paper-based learning.
When the public education sector spent hundreds of millions on digital transformation between 2013 to 2017, MCS took a cautious approach. We viewed widespread digitised education as both unproven, with possible unintended consequences for student formation; and unnecessary, diverting resources from methods tried and true.
Unfortunately, our initial view has proven to be accurate. After observing the ‘edtech’ rollout since 2006 in the United States, neuroscientist Jared Horvath has demonstrated a stark correlation between student habits of high screen use, and poorer standardised test scores. Since these tests reflect learning capability or “brain smarts”, Gen Z is the first in modern history to be less smart than their parents.
As Horvath explains, when schools incorporate digital education tools, especially for multiple hours a day, students develop frequent task-switching behaviour, which is associated with weaker memory formation and more potential for error. Digitised education also replaces handwriting with keyboard typing. However, handwriting activates more brain networks than typing. Therefore, taking notes and writing answers literally grows a student’s brain.
At MCS, we aspire to distraction-free learning, which will foster our students’ diligence, self-control and the deep concentration needed to wrestle with challenging ideas.
Our Primary School students are not required to use, or purchase devices. Classes and homework rely heavily on handwriting and reading printed material. In the High School, our new policy is that 95% of assigned homework will be completed without digital technology, requiring printed material, such as textbooks and notes. When required for homework, our teachers will notify parents about the purpose, type, and expected duration of digital technology.
This policy is a response to conscientious parents, who tell us that digital devices are a major distraction for their teen’s homework. We want to support them with clarity about the times when technology is genuinely required.
While the social and educational fallout from edtech continues, MCS will continue using reliable methods to build our students’ minds and character.