Kids read and write better on iPads: Swedish study
Young children using tablets such as the iPad are better at writing than their counterparts using pens and paper, a new Swedish study has revealed.
The study, carried out by researchers at Örebro University in central Sweden, found that seven year olds at a northern Stockholm school were more competent when using technology than when stuck with the more traditional pen and paper.
"There is a really big difference when they stop using pens and get to write on computers instead," Åke Grönlund, who ran the study, told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper.
The students were tested on both their reading comprehension and writing capabilities, and the professor found that those on the surfing tablets were much more comfortable with the challenge.
"Those using pens could write a few sentences while those on computers wrote long stories up to 2,300 words," Grönlund said.
The professor explained that while the young children using pens might be concentrating on forming the shapes of the letters of the words, those on the computers were able to write with a clear mind and a focus on the language they were using.
While the study concentrated on only 87 students, Grönlund believes the results could lead the way to a solution for more effective teaching and an increase in student success.
"The results are important and encouraging, because there is a need for better methods for teaching reading and writing," Grönlund said in a statement.
"The number of students leaving primary school without passing Swedish, maths, and English is growing."
The Local/og
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The study, carried out by researchers at Örebro University in central Sweden, found that seven year olds at a northern Stockholm school were more competent when using technology than when stuck with the more traditional pen and paper.
"There is a really big difference when they stop using pens and get to write on computers instead," Åke Grönlund, who ran the study, told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper.
The students were tested on both their reading comprehension and writing capabilities, and the professor found that those on the surfing tablets were much more comfortable with the challenge.
"Those using pens could write a few sentences while those on computers wrote long stories up to 2,300 words," Grönlund said.
The professor explained that while the young children using pens might be concentrating on forming the shapes of the letters of the words, those on the computers were able to write with a clear mind and a focus on the language they were using.
While the study concentrated on only 87 students, Grönlund believes the results could lead the way to a solution for more effective teaching and an increase in student success.
"The results are important and encouraging, because there is a need for better methods for teaching reading and writing," Grönlund said in a statement.
"The number of students leaving primary school without passing Swedish, maths, and English is growing."
The Local/og
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