Technological Reliance During COVID and Its Effects on Children's Learning
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Shift to remote learning increased screen-based instruction and self-directed study, reducing in-person teacher guidance and peer interaction.
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Positive impacts: greater access to digital resources, personalized learning tools, flexible pacing, and increased digital literacy (coding, search, online collaboration).
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Negative impacts: widened achievement gaps due to unequal device/internet access; reduced social-emotional learning, hands-on play, and attention regulation; increased distraction and screen fatigue.
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Pedagogical changes: accelerated adoption of blended/hybrid models, emphasis on asynchronous content, and expanded use of formative digital assessment and learning analytics.
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Long-term implications: durable integration of edtech into curricula, stronger focus on teacher tech training, and renewed attention to equity, screen-time policies, and socio-emotional supports.
Sources: UNESCO, “COVID-19 Educational Disruption and Response” (2020); OECD, “Education Responses to COVID-19” (2021); Dorn et al., “COVID-19 and learning loss — disparities grow” (Brookings, 2020).