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

Your claim appear to be true, as you include a useful statistic, that only 33% of fourth graders in the U.S. are proficient in reading, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This ties into how the rise of online learning, especially after Covid, has increased screen time for students, creating difficulties with attention and complex reading. I found an additional source from the New York Post, where's teachers have reported that students' reliance on devices for learning has led to a decline in literacy, attention spans, and overall academic engagement. Your claim effectively highlights this negative impact of technology when overused in classrooms, and I like how you hone in on how this affects younger learners.

Answer 2

Your claim that Generation Alpha is being set up for failure in the classroom due to the pervasive use of digital technology and AI holds considerable weight. The integration of AI tools like ChatGPT into education has raised concerns about students’ overreliance on technology, potentially undermining critical thinking and creativity. In Scotland, for instance, the Scottish Qualifications Authority reported a near doubling in cheating incidents attributed to AI usage, highlighting the challenges of maintaining academic integrity in the digital age.  https://www.emorywheel.com/article/2024/11/digital-age-sets-gen-alpha-up-for-failure-in-classroom?utm_

Answer 3

Although I do believe the statement that "The "Digital Age" has set Gen A up for failure in school" is true, the statement itself can be classified as an opinion. The article linked from "The Emory Wheel" comments on the increase in media use post-Covid-19 world. I think even in the past few years technology has had one of the largest "growth spurts" since the creation. With the new invention of AI, there is a scary change in academic performance and commitment to skill which is important to address. In an article from The Hill they stated "In the case of generative AI, the basic question is, “What input should be coming from the human, and what inputs can come from the AI in order to accomplish the goal of the assignment?” They explain that schools are aware of the amount ChatGPT and other AI is being used and now are trying to redefine work as small steps to combat the effect of learning AI has put on schools and students.

https://thehill.com/opinion/education/4570563-ai-cheating-is-destroying-higher-education-heres-how-to-fight-it/

Comments

I totally agree with you! Technology has evolved over the past couple years due to covid-19. It caused new innovations, and AI is one of those advancements

Answer 4

The claim that Gen Alpha has been set up for failure in the classroom due to the rise of technology is largely opinion-based. There’s no doubt that technology has significantly reshaped education, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic when schools rapidly shifted to online learning. Today, even elementary school students often complete their assignments digitally, which raises valid concerns about how this shift is affecting learning outcomes. The article from The Emory Wheel cites a statistic that only 33% of fourth graders scored at or above proficiency on a national reading exam. This figure is accurate, according to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and it highlights a worrying trend. However, while this decline correlates with increased screen time and digital learning, it’s not definitive proof that technology is the root cause. Other sources present a more nuanced view. Purdue University highlights the benefits of educational technology, stating that it has “greatly expanded access to education” and improved collaboration. In contrast, a Stanford University article critiques the digital age’s impact, noting that classroom technologies can alter how students engage with the world and even contribute to a sense of surveillance and disconnection. Overall, the argument that Gen Alpha is doomed by technology oversimplifies a complex issue. While there are legitimate concerns about overreliance on digital tools, there are also clear advantages. The conversation shouldn’t be about whether technology is good or bad, but about how we use it thoughtfully in education.

Purdue University. (2024, January). How has technology changed education? Purdue University College of Education. https://education.purdue.edu/2024/01/how-has-technology-changed-education/

Stanford University. (2023, April). Technology might be making education worse. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2023/04/technology-might-be-making-education-worse

The Emory Wheel. (2024, November). Digital age sets Gen Alpha up for failure in classroom. https://www.emorywheel.com/article/2024/11/digital-age-sets-gen-alpha-up-for-failure-in-classroom

U.S. Department of Education. (2022). The Nation’s Report Card: Reading 2022. National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

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Answer 5

You bring up an important point about how tech use in schools has changed since the pandemic, and I appreciate the stat you included about fourth-grade reading levels. That said, I am a bit skeptical about the idea that the digital age alone is to blame for Gen Alpha's struggles. There are so many other factors that likely play a big role as well. I also think that it's worth noting that tech and AI can actually help if used well. I totally agree though, that for younger kids especially, too much screen time and not enough hands on learning can be a problem. Maybe the real issue is how we're using the technology, not just that we're using it.

Comments

Your point about the many other contributing factors is so important. Things like curriculum changes, family dynamics, and even post-pandemic social development challenges all likely play a role in Gen Alpha’s learning outcomes. Tech and AI do have real potential to enhance education when they're integrated thoughtfully.

Answer 6

Your claim that Generation Alpha has been set up for failure in the classroom due to the digital age is supported by declining reading proficiency scores and concerns about the overuse of technology in education.

According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 31% of fourth graders in the United States scored at or above proficiency in reading, down from 33% in 2022 and 35% in 2019. This decline correlates with increased reliance on technology in classrooms following the COVID-19 pandemic. Many schools have adopted online assignments, even for elementary students, which some experts argue contributes to reduced comprehension skills. Studies indicate that reading on screens often results in superficial engagement with texts compared to traditional print reading, impacting higher-order thinking and retention skills (National Center for Education Statistics).

Additionally, educators have observed behavioral changes, including shorter attention spans and over-reliance on technology for answers. AI and other digital tools can sometimes substitute critical thinking and skill development, further challenging students' ability to meet educational benchmarks. Countries like Sweden are now reversing their approach to technology in education, reintroducing printed books and handwriting after seeing declines in foundational skills (AP News).

While technology has the potential to enhance learning, its misuse or overuse can create challenges. The continued growth of AI and digital tools in education underscores the importance of carefully balancing traditional and technological teaching methods to ensure long-term student success

Answer 7

As I looked through the source of the claim from the article (the account who posted it), the account seemed credible. However, the investigation found the account who posted it is still in school and lacks considerable experience. Her bio describes her to currently be majoring in Political Science and considering double-majoring in something undetermined. The link for a trusted source on the same claim/topic is below. The source is credible as its mission statement is to broadcast programs of intellectual integrity and cultural merit with an unbiased perspective of current events. The source talks about how research illustrates that youth tend to be distracted when using technology screens. Also, it talks about how there is less of an ability for verbal interaction between youth, classmates, parents, friends, and professors. This lessens the bonding and interpersonal opportunities that create associations with that and literacy. The original first instance of this claim/idea was when two different sources talked about the following federal acts passed. Subsequently, the effects mentioned earlier occurred. The first was when,”...over $20 million had been invested in 250 school systems and 50 colleges across the country by the Ford Foundation's Fund for the Advancement of Education… entered the arena of instructional technology with the passage of the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) in 1958…” The second was when, “...as part of its Cold War era competition. After witnessing the launch of Sputnik, the Soviet Union’s first satellite, America shifted much of its attention in education to math and science while embracing technology in particular. The Vocational Education Act in 1963 funded technology use in schools. As a result, students learned programming languages like BASIC, and PCs gradually made their way into some classrooms.” A second excerpt from this source that describes limitations are as follows, “I've written about a couple of the more high-profile implementations of television in schools the 1950s and 1960s on Hack Education…‘oh, we will never let technology to replace teachers.’...The story of the MPATI, the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction in which two DC-6 planes flew over schools in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, broadcasting televised lessons via Stratovision — supplemental instruction for rural students, not a replacement for human instruction. Because definitely running two giant planes as a television broadcasting service makes sense.” A source describing this is included below. 

https://www.wypr.org/wypr-mission-statement

https://www.wypr.org/podcast/your-childs-brain/2023-05-04/the-impact-of-technology-on-reading-and-literacy

https://hackeducation.com/2020/05/06/crisis

https://www.hmhco.com/blog/the-history-of-technology-in-education?srsltid=AfmBOopXugLhDu41CgnFVvOBdSrKCklr7VBUhzwJA6r1fjM8LlOvXU2A

Answer 8

While this claim is partially true, it could also be biased. This is a opinion based claim. But according to the charger, "grades  were at their lowest in decades.  Researchers suspect that this is  because of technology that Generation Alpha has grown up with.  It could also be due to events  such as lockdowns from the  global pandemic that affected  the generation that is so young  and impressionable. This generation is the future of our world,  and having grades at all time low is something that should be  terrifying not just for the generation itself, but the entire global  population who will be affected  by their future decisions." AI is expanding and with that, the education system needs to adapt to this change or it will crumble.

https://thechargeronline.com/7746/chargeronline/alpha-generation-learning-cause-for-concern/