Ofsted warns against ‘extremely disruptive’ tablet computers
The education watchdog, Ofsted, has warned against children bringing tablet computers to school because they are “extremely disruptive”.
The warnings follow new figures that show that one in three secondary schools now allow students to use devices on their grounds.
Teachers in the UK are increasingly using tablet computers to teach their lessons with many classrooms now quitted out with a computer per child.
New figures, published by the Times Educational Supplement (TES), revealed that 30 per cent of secondaries now operate a “bring your own device” policy in their schools.
But the inspectorate opposes children bringing their own tablet computers, such as iPads, to school.
“Pupils bringing personal devices such as laptops or tablets into school can be extremely disruptive and make it difficult for teachers to teach,” an Ofsted spokesman told TES.
“It is up to schools to decide whether they have rules about personal devices, but Ofsted would be supportive of heads who took tough action to make the learning environment better for children.”
Miles Berry, principal lecturer in computing education at the University of Roehampton, backs the use of technology in classrooms, and thinks many more schools will opt to let pupils to bring in their own devices.
“Schools have two options when it comes to technology: they can either buy the kit or they can let their students bring their own in,” he told the publication. “Budgets are limited and if schools are satisfied they can keep their students safe, then allowing them to bring in their own device and use it for their learning seems like such an obvious thing to do.”
Lesson to learn: Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw should know that services staffed by volunteers can be centres of excellence Photo: Geoff Pugh
Earlier this year, Tom Bennett, the Department for Education discipline tsar, said: ““Technology is transforming society and even classrooms – but all too often we hear of lessons being disrupted by the temptation of the smartphone. Learning is hard-work and children are all too aware of this. So when they have a smartphone in their pocket that offers instant entertainment and reward, they can be easily distracted from their work.”
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph earlier this summer, Sir Michael reiterated his stance as part of a call for more headteachers to take up a “grammar school ethos” on discipline.
“Any headteacher worth his or her salt can stand up at assembly and say: ‘I am not going to have children chewing gum. I am not going to have children bringing mobile phones in. I’m not having children swear. I’m not having children answer back in class’.”
[Source:-.The.Telegraph]