U.S. neuroscientist: "Generation Z shows lower IQ and attention"
Spread of screen-based learning linked to declining academic performance
There is a claim that Generation Z, who grew up in a digital environment, show lower performance than previous generations in academic achievement and in major cognitive abilities overall. The analysis is that screen-centered learning, which has penetrated deeply into classrooms and daily life, has weakened concentration and thinking skills.
According to the New York Post on the 7th (local time), American neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath recently testified before the U.S. Congress that "Generation Z, classified as those born between 1997 and 2010, is the first generation to record lower scores than the immediately preceding generation on standardized academic assessments."
He explained that Generation Z has shown lower performance than previous generations in almost all major cognitive indicators, including attention, memory, literacy, numeracy, executive function, and overall intelligence (IQ). He added that they also tend to perceive their own learning abilities as higher than they actually are.
Continuous screen exposure has changed the learning environment
Dr. Horvath pointed to "continuous screen exposure" as the key background factor behind this phenomenon. He argued that for Generation Z, the learning environment itself has fundamentally changed, as they are the first generation to be constantly exposed from childhood to digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
He said, "Teenagers spend about half of their waking hours looking at screens," and added, "Human beings are originally designed to learn through interaction with other people and through deep learning. Learning that relies on summarized information and short videos cannot replace this."
He argued that so-called "edutech" classes using digital devices have rapidly spread in schools, but contrary to expectations, the learning effects have not been clear. Outside the classroom, he explained, it has become routine for students to use social networking services (SNS) such as TikTok and Snapchat and to consume classic literature or learning content in summarized form.
He stressed, "I am not opposed to technology; what I am saying is that we need to restore the rigor and intensity of learning," and added, "We need to reduce students' screen time in the classroom and return to an environment where they open books again to read and study in depth."
"A global phenomenon"... Achievement falls after the introduction of digital education
Dr. Horvath said, "We have been measuring generational cognitive development since the late 1800s, and until now every generation has shown higher performance than their parents' generation," adding, "However, with Generation Z, that trend has reversed for the first time." He went on to argue that this phenomenon is not a problem limited to the United States.
He said, "When you look at academic achievement data from 80 countries, there is a tendency for academic performance to decline significantly after digital technology is widely introduced into schools," and added, "We are repeatedly seeing cases where the more technology enters the educational setting, the more learning outcomes actually deteriorate."
He added that going forward, schools should reduce the use of digital devices in classrooms and create a better learning environment for the next generation, Generation Alpha.
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