Why Tablets Can’t Replace ‘Real World’ in Schools

Tablets are ubiquitous in schools. But a new study suggests they can’t replace experiments with real-world objects when it comes to helping kids learn.

A game that combined real-world experiments with interactions on a computer tablet improved learning by almost five times more than screen-only alternatives. Eldad Carin/iStock

Tablets are ubiquitous in schools. But a new study suggests they can’t replace experiments with real-world objects when it comes to helping kids learn.

Researchers designed an experiment to see if 92 children ages 6 to 8 years learned more from a mixed-reality (combining physical and virtual worlds) or screen-only educational game, and the effect that adding a physical component (like shaking the screen) had on the students’ enjoyment of the activity.

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