However, to make this a reality, many more printers are needed in both homes and schools
A new survey commissioned by Epson for its range of EcoTank ink-free printers has revealed that 63% of parents in 20 European countries would welcome greater use of printed worksheets and textbooks in the classroom. In the Czech Republic it is 61% and in Slovakia 59% of parents. Across Europe, 71% of teachers agree with this.
Most parents in Europe also report that print materials in classrooms improve literacy (54%). There are even 57% of such parents in the Czech Republic and 56% in Slovakia. Only 9% of European parents think that traditional printed materials would distract students and reduce attention. The result also supports Epson’s previous research, which revealed that 59% of parents think their children learn better when interacting with physical objects than receiving information from digital screens. (i).
At the same time, neuroscientists from Teachers College at Columbia University demonstrated a clear advantage of reading text on paper compared to text on a screen, where so-called “surface reading” was observed.” (i)
But in reality, teachers feel frustrated with the lack of printers to help them integrate more worksheets for students. Across Europe, 74% of respondents think it is essential to have access to a printer. But only 12% of all teachers interviewed have a printer available in their classroom. Many use their own printers, with 18% of European teachers reporting that they use a home printer for teaching materials. In the Czech Republic this share is 12% and in Slovakia 16%.
Parents seem to be doing the same, as almost a fifth (18%) of parents in Europe regularly print homework and learning materials at home because the school does not provide them. In the Czech Republic it is 17% and in Slovakia 21% of parents.
Marcel Divín, National Sales Manager Epson Europe CZ & SK, said: “The evidence suggests that parents, teachers and academics agree: We need more books and worksheets to improve skills and the way we learn. We know from working with clinical psychologists that printed texts help increase fine motor skills, creativity and understanding in ways that digital texts do not.”
“This requires printers, but our research shows that there are not always enough of them. Our research revealed that teachers and parents often use their own resources to supplement those provided in schools. Given the limited budget, schools must allocate their financial resources to teaching aids that attract the highest attention and bring educational benefits. Our research shows that traditional paper-based education is often the best choice.”
“The Epson EcoTank printer is an ideal choice for home and school printing. Each model comes with enough ink to last up to three years, which can save up to 90% of costs. And without ink cartridge waste, they can actually help kids learn for less.”
About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company focuses on solving societal issues through innovation in the areas of home, business, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, projection and lifestyle. Epson aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and eliminate the use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metals.
Led by Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the global Epson Group has annual sales of over JPY 1 trillion.
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Source: www.nextech.sk
