Often technology is billed as the savior of all things. It will save time, increase learning outcomes, and make our lives easier. While some of these correlations may have elements of truth, there has also been a great deal of research on the darker side of technology (think social media for teens, the infusion of AI to supplant critical thinking and jobs, etc.)

As an educational institution, SWS prepares students by teaching them the core academic skills, as well as all the other important skills for life. We do this in a relational way, teaching primarily without screens or digital technology until later in middle school. In groundbreaking new research from Columbia University, researchers found that children comprehend texts better, and remember the material longer, when reading and writing on paper.

In recent years, there has been a decline in youth reading scores, which the study attributes to the shift towards digital learning. Waldorf Education prioritizes handwriting, physical texts, and books. Technology is introduced as children progress through the grades, but most learning is intentionally done off-screen. This fosters cognitive development, comprehensive learning, and builds fine motor skills, ensuring that students take materials in at a deeper level and retain that knowledge longer.

Technology has its place, of course! But think about all the technology that surrounds your children in their daily lives? Wouldn’t you like to learn in an environment where technology is limited and they develop true capacities for learning? We’d love for you to join us!