London, April 17. A report published on Monday by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), based on the analysis of educational policies in 30 countries and jurisdictions, urges to educate children from the earliest years on the “dangers and advantages” of technology.
At school age, between kindergarten and primary school, minors develop their cognitive, social and emotional skills. This is when they must begin training to be “protected from the harms” of technology and “equipped with the knowledge to thrive in digital societies”, the document says.
“An early understanding of digital technology allows children to be exposed to new ideas and concepts. This empowers them and can potentially lead to the development of skills that will help them later in life,” says Andreas Schleicher, Special Advisor on education policy to the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
“That said, the risks should not be ignored either”, warns the specialist, who highlights the negative impact that “long exposure to screens” can have, the tendency to have “fewer in-person interactions” and the danger of exposing yourself to “inappropriate content.”
The OECD report examines the role of technological education in kindergartens, nurseries and preschool classrooms based on experiences from regions around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, l Iceland, European Union (EU) countries, Japan, Morocco, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In its findings, the agency states that “most countries and jurisdictions are promoting the safe and responsible use of technology in education, ahead of restrictive plans”, although it stresses that “children need to be better protected in digital environments”.
In particular, it highlights the “physical and psycho-emotional” risks of using technology, as well as threats to privacy.
“The use of the internet, tablets and smartphones, social networks and messaging applications has profoundly changed the lives of children around the world”, warns the OECD, which underlines the “concern of many governments” about the impact of these developments in the world. childhood.
The agency warns that in various countries “they do not have regulatory bodies with specific responsibilities in the digital safety of minors” and that the information available on possible risks for children is normally aimed at parents, rather as well as professionals in the educational field.
At the same time, the report stresses the need to tackle the digital divide from an early age, for which it is essential to train minors in the use of technology from the earliest stages of their education.
These skills can be taught without the need for long screen exposures, using, for example, “robot and puzzle games”, notes the OECD.
“Disadvantaged girls and minors are often less likely to choose careers in technology fields, compared to boys and minors in more advantaged fields,” the document states.
In the roadmap towards a better technological education of the little ones, the organization points as one of the keys to success the training of teachers and specialists who are in contact with minors.
“All (education) workers should have a basic understanding of the safe and effective use of digital technologies,” the document states.
Digital tools can also make it easier for education centers to interact with families, especially in “disadvantaged” communities, the report says, noting, however, that “very few countries and jurisdictions are training employees in this area.” ECE
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