The advantages of on-screen learning

We are all using screens more now than ever, which can have a negative impact on our eyes and ears. However there can also be huge benefits for people who are deafblind, as Deafblind UK trustee Roger explains.

“Imagine yourself with very little sight and faced with two very different learning situations…

In a traditional classroom

Firstly, imagine you are in a classroom or a lecture theatre. The teaching is going on at the front. You can’t see the hands, face or the detailed movements of the teacher or read their slides or white board. If your hearing is poor, like mine, you get some of the words but you struggle to keep up with notes. Not a good learning situation and possibly quite demotivating despite your huge desire to learn.

In front of a screen

This time, imagine you are at home in front of a screen. You have adjusted its size to suit your needs. You can also set the colours, background and alter the level of brightness or glare. You adjust the volume level so you hear well and, best of all, you can stop, start, repeat and even save the learning material.

Benefits for all!

Some people will of course get more on-screen benefit than others. It certainly never takes away the need for face-to-face learning support and explanatory encouragement. But for me, and many others, this approach works much better!

This is not just relevant to children and students. Many of us are mature adults who need to read, write and learn new tricks for how to communicate and learn in new ways.

Some of these new ways have become more commonly used as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all now aware of Zoom and through YouTube some of us are able to learn how to do things we have never done before. Our children are also able to watch BBC lessons at the time when they can’t go to school and learn in the classroom. So on-screen learning is benefiting us all!”

Here at Deafblind UK we regularly share new developments in technology which we think will help people with sight and hearing loss, you can keep up to date by reading our blogs, following us on social media and subscribing to our quarterly Open Hand email.

We also work hard to help everyone take care of their eyes and eyes. So please remember that while technology is great, you should always take regular breaks to protect your eyes and ears from long term damage.