The "Digital Age" has set Gen A up for failure in school.

Question

My claim is that Gen Alpha has been set up for failure in the classroom due to the digital age usage in classrooms. It is very clear how technology has impacted education especially after the pandemics when everything was online. Now, even in as young as elementary school, assignments for kids are online. In the tagged article, it mentions that only 33% of fourth graders in America scored at or above proficiency on a reading exam. As technology and AI continue to grow, our education system will decrease.

Answer 1

Through researching I found mixed evidence on whether the digital has set up generation A up for failure in school. A 2022 analysis in JAMA Psychiatry found that greater screen time among children under 12 was linked to small increases in behavior problems, such as attention span issues and increased anxiety. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that excessive media us and multitasking during homework can negatively affect school performance and sleep quality. Meanwhile, the Nation's Report Car shows that only 33% of U.S. fourth graders reached reading proficiency in 2022, down from 2019 levels, but it does not directly connect this decline to digital media use. Data also show teens spend increasing amounts of time online, with digital entertainment now a dominant part of their lives. Overall, while heavy digital engagement may contribute to distractions and behavioral challenges, current evidence does not prove that the digital age alone is causing academic failure among generation A, but is a contributing factor.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2790338

https://www.marketingcharts.com/demographics-and-audiences/teens-and-younger-225502

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/adverse-effects-of-television-commercials.aspx

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/nation/achievement/?grade=4

Answer 2

This claim can be true but also is a bit more exaggerated and is more opinion based. 

Gen alphas parents are Millennials and got introduced to technology such as artificial intelligence later in life but are now into it and their most of their day-to-day basis are revolved around technology, making these kids get exposed to social media and technology at a young age. As I have read 2 other articles there are pro and cons to it, Gen alpha is the first generation that's raised mainly around technology and has affected their social life and one of the affects that stand out to me is that had a huge impact on it. In the article made by The Annie E. Casey Foundation writers wrote "COVID lock­downs pre­vent­ed such social­iza­tion, result­ing in increased time on screens, even for the youngest Alphas. An increas­ing share of these chil­dren are now exhibit­ing men­tal, behav­ioral or devel­op­men­tal chal­lenges"and this shows one of the cons technology and social media has had on Gen alpha. One of the pros that technology has is that these kids are advanced when it comes to it and can help out grandparents/parents that are older and don't understand. Andrews Univeristy, Sherri Uhrig  wrote"which leads them to be the technology “interrupters” and “helpers” for their parents and grandparents. We have all said something like, “If you want to know something about technology just ask the kids!” but following that sentence also mentions how kids are more exposed to pornography and gaming at such a young age "the negative aspects readily available through technology, such as pornography addiction and gaming addiction."

Sources:

Andrews University

the Annie E. Casey Foundation

Answer 3

After conducting additional research, I found this claim to be exaggerated, but not entirely false. Digital usage in the classroom definitely creates new challenges that students and teachers have to adapt to, like dealing with shorter attention spans, over-dependence on tech, unwillingness to engage with curriculum, etc., We saw technology take over education during the pandemic. While tech has its downsides, it also opens a lot of doors in the world of education. It's been proven that the introduction of digital use in education has improved overall global communication, and made tools for education more accessible to all. Despite these things, tech use in classrooms has not become a universally accepted/ encouraged idea. ** I wouldn't say that Generation Alpha is set up for failure in school because of the lean towards a digital curriculum, I would just say that the implementation of technology in the classroom has changed the way the newer generations are learning, and to ensure the best education possible we all need to adapt to these new systems- students, teachers, parents, and more. In short, this claim is exaggerated because it cannot be directly proven that technology use correlates with the failure of Gen. Alpha in the classroom. 

 

** “Digital technologies offer immense potential for fundamental improvement in schools. However, investment in ICT infrastructure and professional development to improve school education are yet to provide fruitful results. Digital transformation is a complex process that requires large-scale transformative changes that presuppose digital capacity and preparedness. To achieve such changes, all actors within the school’s ecosystem need to share a common vision regarding the integration of ICTs in education and work towards achieving this goal.”

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9684747/#Sec17  (National Library of Medicine, Reputable source)

Answer 4

This is a very interesting topic that highlights a growing concern in modern education. The claim asserts that digital technology has negatively impacted Generation Alpha’s academic development, particularly in the classroom. With the rise of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, even elementary school students now rely heavily on digital platforms for assignments and instruction. This shift has raised alarms among educators and parents, who observe that children are struggling with basic skills such as handwriting, attention span, and social interaction. A recent Newsweek article reports that teachers are seeing short attention spans and overdependence on technology among Gen Alpha students, many of whom began their education in fully digital environments. Newsweek

Supporting this concern is a statistic from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): only 33% of fourth graders in the U.S. scored at or above proficiency in reading in 2022. NAEP This marks a decline from previous years and reflects broader challenges in foundational learning. While technology itself isn’t inherently harmful, its overuse and poor integration into early education may be contributing to these outcomes. As artificial intelligence and digital tools continue to evolve, it’s crucial to ensure they are used to support, and not replace, core learning experiences.

Answer 5

While there is some truth to the claim that Generation Alpha students may face challenges due to the increased use of technology in classrooms the statement can be somewhat misleading. The claim suggests that Gen Alpha is set up for failure, which is an overgeneralization that doesn’t fully see the complexity of the issue. I’m able to recognize that parts of this claim are very valid and deserve attention,specifically the shocking report from the article that was cited noting that many fifth graders struggled to spell their own names. However, it’s super difficult to pinpoint the exact causes of these educational setbacks because Gen Alpha is still a very young generation, and there hasn’t been enough time for long-term evidence to support or go against either side of the argument. For example, while the article that was cited mentions that only 33% of fourth graders in 2022 met reading proficiency standards, I found reports that seem to share a different side. According to a 2024 report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, over 36 million children aged 0 to 11 were active internet users, which suggests that Gen Alpha is becoming quickly proficient with technology. This could indicate potential strengths in digital literacy that may balance out some of the academic concerns raised. This brings me back to the point that it's really hard to understand the impacts of Technology especially on a generation so young and I think that with time will be able to better understand these impacts and provide stronger claims. overall I think your claim what's wrong but there are definitely some drawbacks that can be further researched.

Sources: https://www.aecf.org/blog/impact-of-social-media-on-gen-alpha

https://www.emorywheel.com/article/2024/11/digital-age-sets-gen-alpha-up-for-failure-in-classroom

Answer 6

There is extensive research on the impacts of technology on the generation alphas minds. The claim of technology setting up gen alpha for failure in the classroom I believe is true. Teachers are coming forward speaking about their difficulties with the students. Whether behavioral or academic struggles they are sprouting from the overuse of technology. https://www.emorywheel.com/article/2024/11/digital-age-sets-gen-alpha-up-for-failure-in-classroom Studies on Gen Alpha’s social media use finds that they favor apple like tiktok or youtube shorts for short videos that grab their attention. Likely providing a dopamine hit from their brain making the experience enjoyable and addicting. Growing up in a technology surrounded world its inevitable that children are growing up dependant on it. 8 in 10 parents of Gen Alpha say their children use their mobile devices 7-8 hours a day. This may lead to the development of social media addiction. Using social media as an escape of everyday problems. Constantly escaping into the world of quick, fun, short videos is leading many of these childrens to problems with shortened attention spans. The decreasing attention spans can affect the students classroom behavior. Creating disruptive behaviors that inhibit a students ability to learn. Bevaiors can manifest as mental issues, ADHD, and depression. The COVID-19 Pandemic may be responsible for this new age dependency on technology. Children raised in the pandemic during the crucial ages of socialization are already being shown to have these delays in social and emotional development. The inability to socialize children with others turned families to technology which now are behaviorally felt by educators in their classrooms.https://www.aecf.org/blog/impact-of-social-media-on-gen-alpha Gen Alpha are coming into classrooms with apathetic attitudes disengaging themselves with being taught. Teachers notice a downward shift in participation and accountability. Students seem to not see or understand the benefit of classroom education. Also tying into the decline in attendance of Gen Alpha students. Smartphones becoming the norm in schools has lead to disruptions in classrooms. Cyber-bullying may also become a distraction in schools effecting students mental health and cusing anxiety which impacts their learning. Wile the media is introducing this generation into new ideas an connection to the world not all technology is good especially when there is a direct link in negative impact on learning. For students now to get a quality education while being hooked on smartphones and ipads we need to rethink school’s curriculum to cater to the shortened attention spans and behavioral issues.https://www.newsweek.com/generation-alpha-technology-education-teachers-2076269?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Answer 7

The Emory Wheel, a newspaper sourced out of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, published an article titled “The ‘Digital Age’ has set Gen A up for failure in school,” and this source is what is referenced in the claim. 

In this article, the position that the new technology of this time is bad for the youth is clearly taken, and though social media and other forms of tech today can surely be an obstacle in education, we give media power, it does have an agenda of its own. I believe The Emory Wheel’s article, along with its title can be misleading, because it attests to the belief that modern digital technology is inherently bad, and that it is working against the success of youth. This article also skews the stats they provided to fit their claim. The Emory Wheel makes a pretty heavy claim that can be convincing right off the bat, for they state, “In 2022, only 33% of fourth graders in the United States scored at or above proficiency in reading…  If their educational performance does not improve, there will be significant setbacks for future societal progress,” however, when visiting the site where the information originated, The Nation’s Report Card (https://www.nationsreportcard.gov) you’ll find this stat is only 2% lower than 2019, and 5% higher than 1992, the first year of this reading assessment. Additionally, since 1992 the percentage for this assessment has been rising overall, peaking in 2017, and then 2019, and 2022, or slightly lower.

No mainstream news source has posted any claim related to this one, furthermore, The Emory Wheel states, “As technology and AI continue to grow, our education system will decrease,” which has also not been validated by any top news sources. There are pros and cons to modern technology, and more sources than not say these advances will enhance and not diminish our education system ( 

The National Institutes of Health published an article titled "Adolescent Mental Health in the Digital Age: Facts, Fears, and Future Directions,” but this article does not condemn Gen A to failure in school, but rather pose the issues they are dealing with, which largely arise from how adults and educators are handling technology around youth, and how the kids can overcome this obstacle, that at times can be wielded at as a tool in their favor. 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8221420/

Answer 8

This claim is too complex to be able to determine whether or not the digital age is harming students, as there are both pros and cons to this topic. According to Lynn University, the use of technology in the classroom can be beneficial because of the amount of resources the internet has to support students. For example, tools like Google Classroom, Canvas, etc, help keep students organized and hold all their work in one space. However, the article also explains that the rise of technology in Gen Alpha's lives can be negative. As stated in the article, children's access to such a large database of content can be harmful, as they can view videos/images inappropriate for their age. Not only that, but the use of electronic devices can quickly become distracting and harm a student's attention span/will to pay attention in class, impacting their overall performance in class.

Sources:

https://online.lynn.edu/resources/education/technology-impact-early-childhood-education

Answer 9

1. Overall Summary of Findings

The claim is over-generalized and not strongly supported. There is evidence that Generation Alpha (those born ~2010-present) face new educational challenges due to heavy digital exposure, pandemic schooling, and evolving learning models. However, there is not clear, robust evidence showing that they are universally “set up for failure” in school. Many sources argue digital tools present both opportunities and risks; their success will depend on how schools, teachers, and families adapt.

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2. Primary Sources

• Systematic literature review: “Education for Generation Alpha”
  Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44217-024-00218-3
  What I learned: Researchers note Generation Alpha are the first “true digital natives” and schools/teachers are still adjusting teaching tools and methods to their needs. The review shows limited empirical data on outcomes yet. SpringerLink

• AECF blog: “Impact of Social Media and Technology on Gen Alpha”
  Link: https://www.aecf.org/blog/impact-of-social-media-on-gen-alpha
  What I learned: Highlights statistics: by age 2 many Gen Alpha kids already had tablets, by age 4 even more. High early screen exposure may influence attention spans and learning habits. The Annie E. Casey Foundation

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3. Secondary Sources

• Emory Wheel – “Digital age sets Gen Alpha up for failure in classroom”
  Link: https://www.emorywheel.com/article/2024/11/digital-age-sets-gen-alpha-up-for-failure-in-classroom/
  What I learned: A student-newspaper article quoting teachers who believe behaviour and morale problems among Gen Alpha students have worsened post-pandemic and digital learning era. The Emory Wheel

• EdSurge – “What Educators Need to Know about Generation Alpha”
  Link: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-02-02/what-educators-need-to-know-about-generation-alpha
  What I learned: Educators discuss how Gen Alpha’s learning preferences differ (more digital, shorter attention spans, multitasking) and how traditional classroom methods may not fit as well. EdSurge

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4. Potential Biases or Interests

• The literature review and blog may lean toward highlighting problems (screen time, attention) because that is a current concern, possibly overstating causality.

• Emory Wheel article reflects anecdotal reports from teachers; it may emphasize negative behaviours to make a compelling story.

• EdSurge is focused on education technology, may emphasise both challenges and opportunities in digital contexts.

• There is little long-term empirical data yet for Generation Alpha’s academic outcomes; many claims are speculative or early-stage.

Answer 10

This article basically says that society is increasingly concerned that kids from Generation Alpha ( Kids born from 2010 and up) are falling behind in school, and technology and  social media are largely to blame for that. Kristen Seo writer of the article "Digital age sets Gen Alpha up for failure in classroom" highlights how excessive screen time, the pandemic remote learning, and lack of socialization have hurt and are hurting Gen Alpha's foundational skills. Some young students have since been reported to struggle to spell their own names properly due to the fact. Since the pandemic, teachers say that student behavior and motivation have worsened, while attention spans have shortened, and grades and reading comprehension have dimmed down immensely due to the case. A primary source for this claim include JAMA pediatrics-- "Early ChildHood Screen Use Contexts and Cognitive and Psychosocial Outcomes" their systematic review and meta analysis looked at how young children's screen use amongst different types of content, background TV, sharing screens with their caregivers can relate to cognitive and social-emotional development(JAMA). A secondary resource includes Emory Wheel- "Digital age sets Gen Alpha up for failure in classroom", this article state that Gen Alpha's heavy use of screen time is leading to more behavioral issues, shorter attention spans, ADHD-like symptoms in classroom settings, anxiety, and helping poor academic performance and causing teachers to be burned out more quicker and often(Emory Wheel). Biases for this claim can show from Emory Wheel, since its a student newspaper, it may try to lean on anecdotal teacher reports and prevailing concerns, which could potentially amplify generational anxiety about technology. Some evidence to back the claim come from Academic Performance Risk, since the JAMA pediatrics meta analysis of 58 studies found a higher screen time, especially amongst passive media use, it can be correlated with lower academic achievement. Now evidence that undermines the claim, we look at The OECD report, which points out kids with attention span issues who might naturally gravitate toward more screen time, making it hard to isolate any cause and effect.