Does Television in the Classroom Improve Learning?

Television and education in the classroom are often thought to be two things that don't mix all that well. Television has long been associated with sitting down and not technically doing anything - hence suggesting that people who watch television are not productive, and will not be productive whilst they are spending their time watching the screen.

But what people who are too quick to make this assumption might fail to realize, is that the content of the television productions often have a say in whether the person watching television is being productive or not. We now have a large variety of content on the television - fictional dramas, soap operas, documentaries, news and lifestyle programs and then of course we now have educational programs that are aimed at people in school and people who are generally interested in a particular topic area.

For instance, daytime children's television now airs a lot of education-based content that aims to provoke interest in learning at an early age. Children might be watching educational content without even realizing it, as many cartoon and children's shows these days involve an element of social education which teaches children how to be a good person and get along with people.

If television content is able to attract the attention of young toddlers and children alike, keep them interested, and teach them something in the mean time, then you wouldn't be blamed for thinking that television in the classroom would be a good thing. Of course, the television in the classroom would need to be relevant to the course the students are studying (here, this obviously relates to older students as opposed to young children).

People enjoy watching television, and no matter how studious you are; many people will still prefer watching television to spending hours reading textbooks and studying. The power of television in the classroom could potentially be harnessed to allow people to relate to their studies easier, and have a more enjoyable time doing it. Along with other activities, both independent and in groups, teachers could benefit from keeping students interested through the means of educational and thought-provoking television in the classroom.

Whilst this seems like convincing argument for introduction of television to a large amount of classes throughout the country, some people might worry that it actually distracts students from the physical work and mental studying they have to do in order to achieve their grades and do well at school/college. Television is often considered to be something you do when you want to relax, and to introduce an activity like this to a classroom that is meant to be thoroughly productive and educational might be considered to be a counter-productive move.

Overall, it goes to show that television in moderation and with the right content can go a long with in studying. The question of whether or not students should be able to watch educational and course-related content on the television during class times, however, still remains.