Tech's Impact on Education: Why Test Scores Are Dropping

The latest education data paints a stark picture: U.S. test scores in reading and math have been waning since 2013. With average reading scores plummeting nearly a grade level from 2015 to 2025, experts are searching for answers. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor from San Diego State University, points not to immigration, as some have speculated, but to technology as the primary cause for this decline.

Twenge highlights the correlation between the rise of digital media and falling academic performance. Since the early 2010s, social media and other digital platforms, which increasingly infiltrate classroom environments, have become potent distractions. The argument isn't just theoretical. A 2021 study found that foreign-born students can boost native students' test scores, suggesting a more nuanced view of how diverse educational environments impact learning. Yet, classrooms filled with tech distractions might be undermining these potential benefits.

It's important to examine the broader implications. For instance, in Florida, increased immigration enforcement corresponded with declining test scores among both foreign and U.S.-born students. This isn't merely an issue of policy but also a tech-driven challenge. As we embrace digital aids like AI in classrooms, we'll need to balance these tools' benefits with their potential downsides. Could crypto technology, with its promise of decentralized education systems, offer an alternative future where educational access isn't tied to traditional tech platforms?

Here's the thing: If technology's role in education isn't critically assessed, we risk shaping a generation ill-prepared for complex problem-solving. As Twenge suggests, there's value in limiting children's exposure to devices, with an emphasis on fostering focus and critical thinking. The crypto world, with its emphasis on decentralized and often self-paced learning, might just offer clever solutions to these educational challenges. That's the skew we're looking at, one that requires both caution and curiosity about the future of learning.