America's Math Scores Plummet After Textbooks Are Replaced
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The Digital Diversion: How EdTech’s Overemphasis on Screens and AI Threatens Academic Progress
The introduction of laptops into U.S. classrooms nearly a quarter-century ago has coincided with a disturbing trend: America’s math and reading scores have declined significantly. While technology itself is not the issue, its overemphasis and misapplication are to blame.
A recent Brookings Institute study analyzed data from interviews and focus groups with more than 500 educators, parents, and students across 50 countries, as well as over 400 studies. The report’s findings are a stark reminder that EdTech’s promises have not been realized: the risks of utilizing generative AI in children’s education outweigh its benefits.
The study highlights how digital tools have become the primary means of instruction, rather than supplementing traditional teaching methods. The use of AI among students has become widespread since the 2022 release of ChatGPT, with over 80% of high school students using generative AI for schoolwork last year, according to a College Board survey.
This shift has led to a neglect of critical thinking skills and deep knowledge. Educators are beginning to realize that the ease with which information is retrieved using AI comes at the cost of meaningful learning experiences. “The cognitive offloading, and the cognitive decline associated with that, the decline in critical thinking, and just even reading and writing and knowledge of basic facts—I absolutely believe that,” said Mary Burns, an education consultant and co-author of the Brookings Institute study.
The failures of earlier EdTech initiatives are also relevant. In the 1920s, Ohio State University psychology professor Sidney Pressey invented the “teaching machine.” Students learned to answer questions generated by the machine, but were unable to generalize that knowledge outside of the device. This same issue persists today with AI-powered learning tools.
The narrative around EdTech’s benefits has been perpetuated by tech companies, which have created a false dichotomy between traditional teaching methods and digital tools. “AI is personalizing learning,” they claim. But Burns correctly identifies this as individualizing learning—a subtle yet significant distinction. “I think it’s individualizing learning. There’s a difference there, and that’s kind of a classic carryover from educational technology.”
The lack of oversight around AI use in classrooms has led to students relying on AI for answers rather than developing their critical thinking skills. According to the University of Wisconsin survey published last month, less than one-third of educators reported implementing policies or guardrails around AI use.
The stakes are high: America’s math and reading scores have tanked because EdTech’s overemphasis on screens and AI has diverted attention away from traditional teaching methods. Educators must strike a balance between harnessing technology’s potential while protecting against its pitfalls. The future of academic progress hangs in the balance, threatened by the digital diversion that has consumed EdTech’s promise.
Reader Views
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The study's findings on EdTech's overemphasis are hardly surprising, but its implications for our education system are far-reaching and deserving of scrutiny. One critical aspect that warrants further investigation is how generative AI perpetuates a culture of convenience at the expense of substance. For instance, teachers and students often prioritize generating A-grade answers over genuine engagement with course material, thus sacrificing depth for breadth in student learning. This raises questions about whether EdTech's focus on efficiency trumps essential pedagogical values like critical thinking and meaningful knowledge acquisition.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The Brookings study's findings on EdTech's failure are a vindication for those of us who've long sounded the alarm about the dangers of overreliance on screens and AI in education. What's striking, though, is how this trend has also perpetuated existing inequalities – children from wealthier families with access to better digital tools are being further propelled ahead, while their peers without these resources are left even farther behind. A more nuanced conversation around EdTech's impact would do well to acknowledge the disparate effects on different student populations.
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The Brookings Institute's findings are a stark reminder that our enthusiasm for EdTech has created a toxic learning environment. While digital tools can be valuable supplements to traditional teaching methods, their overemphasis has led to a neglect of critical thinking skills and deep knowledge. One crucial aspect missing from the discussion is the impact on students with disabilities or learning differences who may struggle even more in an AI-heavy curriculum. We need to consider the unintended consequences of relying too heavily on technology and ensure that all students have access to a well-rounded education, not just those with the means to adapt.