Sweden goes back to basics, swapping screens for books in the classroom

Fälth noted that proponents of reform believe that “basic skills—especially reading, writing, and numeracy—must be firmly established first, and that physical textbooks are often better suited for that purpose.”

Between 2000 and 2012, Swedish students’ scores on standardized tests steadily declined in reading, math, and science. Though they recovered ground between 2012 and 2018, those scores had dropped again by 2022.

Though it’s unclear precisely how much of the decline is due to digitization, there is some evidence that analog teaching materials for reading may be superior to screen learning. However, this applies to expository as opposed to narrative texts. Narrative texts tell a story, whether fiction or non-fiction, while expository texts are designed to inform, describe, or explain a topic in a logical, factual manner.

Swedish officials emphasize that digital technology isn’t being removed from schools altogether. Rather, digital aids “should only be introduced in teaching at an age when they encourage, rather than hinder, pupils’ learning.” Achieving digital competence remains an important objective, particularly in higher grades.

Historically, the technology industry has pushed for more use of digital learning, seeing itself as a transformer of education. In the 1980s, Apple helped bring about the use of computers in schools. Then, starting with the use of the Internet, and later integrating mobile devices, technology reshaped the educational landscape. Education experts suggest it can foster a learning experience that is more interactive, accessible, and tailored to the needs of individual students.

In the US, the trend nationally in recent years has been toward the use of increasingly sophisticated methods of digital learning, such as providing children with laptops or devices like the iPad. According to a survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, part of the trade publication Education Week, 90 percent of school district leaders were providing devices for every middle and high school student as of March 2021. More than 80 percent of school district leaders said the same was true for elementary school students.