Beijing local government has invested $500k to trial the introduction of tablets in primary schools, with one device per child. The aim is to replace books with what they are describing as an ‘e-bag’. The first schools have started trailing this Spring. In one school where the tablets are being used for Maths, Chinese and English, teachers report that the devices facilitate “vibrant interactions in class”. The usual fears and concerns are also raised: won’t the kids just start playing games as soon as the teacher isn’t looking? Could staring at a screen all day be bad for their eyesight? And, of course, there’s a lack of decent materials design for use on the tablets.
Tablet technology enters classrooms, accompanied by concerns
