Tech Trade-Offs

Hey 👋

How’s it going? Today, a final tech snack to round off this series…

Big idea 🍉

It's tempting to assume that tech, because it’s so powerful, automatically leads to better schooling. However, the reality is rarely so straightforward.

Tech often enhances learning less than anticipated and frequently introduces a series of hidden or delayed costs—to learning, wellbeing, or workload. For example:

• LLMs may boost immediate performance… but can erode longterm understanding by outsourcing thinking.

• 1-to-1 devices may offer powerful tools… but unlock a slew of distractions, fragmenting attention & concentration.

• Platforms like Google Classroom may be convenient… but end up moving reading and writing online, undermining comprehension and engagement.

• Search engines offer instant answers, but the ever-available nature of this information leads us to encode and retain it less effectively.

• Even a simple exam results app can displace valuable communal rituals, subtly diminishing belonging and motivation.

And all this is before we even get to the time and resources required to learn, administer, maintain, and update such systems. The costs of complexity are significant, and we must beware of workload just being relocated rather than reduced.

In short, while tech's power is often immediately visible, its costs remain subtle, hidden, and delayed. It is only when these trade-offs are considered, and our result is an overall net positive—across attention, retention, wellbeing, and workload—that we should be open to allowing tech into our classrooms.

This is why some highly effective teachers thrive with simple tools like a visualiser and well-crafted class booklets. By stripping away complexity and distraction, we free up attention and give everyone—both students and teachers—a strong chance of success.

🎓 For more, check out this chapter on the poor track record of student-facing tech (from Dr JCH’s ace book on what schools get wrong).

Summary

• Because it is powerful, it can be tempting to assume that tech is always good for learning.

• However, tech often comes with a variety of less visible costs—we must be aware of these trade-offs.

• Our best bet may be to default to the lowest-tech option, unless there’s a strong case otherwise.

Little updates 🥕

• Study on using scrap paper to solve math(s) problems → finds that offloading boosts performance, especially with stronger prior knowledge.

• Review of research around attracting great teachers → suggests that success depends on matching, supportive environments, coaching, strong curricula, and aligned leadership​.

• Study on air quality & learning → finds small pollution increases raise absences, bad behaviour, and teacher sick days, hitting poorer kids hardest.

• DfE training programme to support reading in secondary schools → promotes use of seven evidence-informed strategies across multiple subjects.

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