Schools could have to navigate a “Wild West” of education technology products, a minister has warned.
Early education minister Paul Waugh said that the government is testing edtech products with teachers, as well as looking at secondary legislation to inform the Information Commissioner’s Office in producing a statutory code of practice for such products.
Addressing MPs on the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, Mr Waugh also raised concerns about “gamification” being used by some edtech platforms to increase screen use.
The minister said: “We know there are so many products coming on the market that schools are going to be tempted by, but there is a danger of there being a Wild West of these products.”
Schools ‘want to be sure edtech is safe’
Mr Waugh’s comments came after more than more than 150 health professionals wrote to ministers in October, warning of a “crisis” in children’s physical and developmental health linked to screen-based learning.
Around £900 million a year is spent on edtech in English schools, the letter stated, and no product is required to show that it is safe for children’s physical health.
Mr Waugh said: “We know that schools want to be certain that what they’re buying from the tech companies is safe, but also whether it’s going to make a real impact.”
Gamification fears
During today’s committee meeting, Emily Darlington, Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central, told ministers about a maths learning platform widely used by primary school pupils for practising times tables, which she described as a “gamification” app that rewards children for how long they spend on it.
Mr Waugh said the government was “definitely” concerned about gamification, calling it “propaganda” on behalf of edtech companies to increase screen time.
“That’s precisely why, in all these edtech products that we’re looking at, we’re making sure that it’s not about gamification,” he added.
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