Education, not entertainment, was top of mind for most parents who bought a touchscreen device this holiday season for their children. The findings are from a poll of 300 parents of children under 18 conducted by The Michael Cohen Group, an applied research firm that specializes in children, education, media and technology.
Sixty-four per cent of the parents surveyed said a desire to help their child’s learning and education was the main reason for their purchase, while only about 34 per cent cited entertainment.
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in the U.S. says that while these devices present challenges, they can also benefit students by providing constant access to the vast knowledge, tools and experts on the Internet. Also, because they’re small, portable and less obtrusive than desktops and laptops, touchscreen devices encourage collaboration.
