SOAMS Creative Education & Consultancy

Journal of a Sustainable Education Advocate

DIGITALISATION & TECHNOLOGY VS. PHYSICAL READING:
CAN DIGITAL TOOLS OUTLIVE TRADITIONAL BOOKS, COMMUNICATION & WRITING?

Reflection through the lense of SOAMS Activity-Based Low-Cost No-Cost Sustainable Education Strategies for the Early Years.

“Slow Reading, Deep Thinking: Teaching Children to Read, Write & Communicate for Life—not for Algorithms". - This is Sustainability Education.

We live in a world where digital technology has transformed how children learn, read, communicate, and write. Yet, physical books and handwriting continue to play irreplaceable roles in literacy, cognitive development, creativity, and communication skills.

The question is not whether digitalisation will replace physical reading, but how both can coexist sustainably to build strong foundational literacy for future-ready children.

Digitalisation vs. Physical Reading — What Research Shows:

✓Strengths of Digitalisation
✓Fast access to information
✓Engaging multimedia (videos, sounds, animations).
✓ Personalised learning apps
✓ Global exposure to ideas and cultures
✓ Early digital literacy for 21st-century skills

Weaknesses of Over-Digitalisation
✓Reduced deep reading, comprehension & vocabulary
✓Shortened attention span
✓Over-reliance on visuals and audio instead of active cognition
✓Poor handwriting and weakened fine-motor skills
Social isolation, reduced face-to-face communication
✓Eye strain, sleep disruption, and digital addiction
✓Decline in creative thinking and imagination

Strengths of Physical Reading & Writing
✓Deep reading → stronger comprehension
✓Better memory retention
✓Enhanced creativity and imagination
✓Strengthened neural pathways for thinking
✓Builds handwriting, coordination, focus
✓Supports emotional bonding between adults and children.
✓ Encourages reflection & self-expression

Weaknesses of Physical Materials
✓Cost of books in low-resource settings
✓Limited variety when libraries are not available
✓Poor preservation when storage conditions are weak

Can Digitalisation Outlive Physical Reading?
No. Digitalisation cannot outlive physical reading — but it will reshape it.

The future of learning is hybrid:
✓ Children need deep literacy from physical reading
✓ They need digital literacy from technology.
✓ They need communication skills from face - to - face interaction.

*** Children need creativity from writing, drawing, and hands-on activities.

*** The world’s strongest education systems (Finland, Singapore, Japan,) still prioritise physical books and handwriting in early childhood, introducing digital tools gradually.

Why Early Years Should Limit Digital Dependence

Ages 0–8 are the critical period for:
✓Brain development
✓Creativity
✓Sensory exploration
✓Fine-motor development
✓Early communication and language skills.

Children at this age learn best through:
✓Play
✓Manipulation of objects
✓Drawing, scribbling, writing
✓Social interaction
✓Storytelling
✓Conversation
✓Hands-on experiences

*** Screens cannot replace these developmental experiences.

Sustainable, activity-based literacy practices ensure that every child — regardless of background — gains the foundational skills needed for quality education and national development.

"Slow Reading, Deep Thinking: Teaching Children to Read, Write & Communicate for Life—not for Algorithms". - This is Sustainability Education, SOAMS".
social responsibility &company ] -friendlyinfrastructure

SOAMS Creative Education Empowering towards Environmental Consciousness

Our Environmental Focus; delivered through:

1. Eco-friendly practices as we Implement sustainable methods in daily operations, such as recycling, reducing waste, and using energy-efficient equipment, and

2. Sustainable products: Offering products or services that promote environmental sustainability, like eco-friendly stationery, reusable bags, or refillable water bottles.

Through SOAMS Creative Activity-Based Low-Cost, No-Cost Sustainable Education Initiative; a piece of waste in students' hands is a tool for imagination in their minds, it becomes a vision of a Greener and sustainable future.

Activity Based Sustainable education isn’t just about teaching; it’s about nurturing young minds to see their role as stewards of the Earth.

Connect with SOAMS to participate in the Activity Based Low Cost, and No Cost Sustainable Education Initiative.

The HighScope Difference!
At SOAMS Creative Education and Consultancy our training and mentoring programmes are experiential.

Our high quality teacher training, parenting workshops and students' learning support
have earned us recognition and facilitated collaboration with national and international organizations.

Our brand is backed by research validated strategies as evidenced by the Perry Preschool outcomes, a landmark study, which has demonstrated significant long-term benefits for children's success in later life.

The award winning initiative: Activity Based, Low Cost, No Cost Sustainable Education mentoring programme

Key skills and programme components that contributing to this success includes development of:

1) Cognitive Skills
2) Social-Emotional Skills
3) Executive Function Skills
4) Active learning Teaching Strategies
5) Value Based education

Programme Components include:
- Child-centered approach
- Active learning and hands-on activities
- Teacher-child interaction and feedback
- Parent involvement and education
- Small class sizes and individualized
attention.

Connect with SOAMS to deliver Sustainable future ready education.
08023044012

The HighScope Difference
Our training and mentoring strategies are backed by the the HighScope research validated approach.

The Sustainable advocate still deep in thought

Definitions
Define knowledge

Define skills

Which is more important in teaching profession?

Journal of a Sustainable Education Advocate

"Activity Activity - Based, Low cost, No Cost Sustainable Education Initiative: From Waste to Experiential Play, Learning and Development"

Knowledge versus Skills
As I continue to train & mentor educators of schools registered for the Sustainable Education programme, I observe the struggle some of them have in reading assignments, carrying out further research on topics discussed and especially challenge in writing their learning journals and reports on: implementation of the SDGs, Low cost principles, improvisation through nature, adoption of free flow indigenous games instead of expensive structured equipment etc

Everyone is a trained teacher, knowledgeable in their subject areas, however the challenge comes with application of knowledge and display of skills to respond appropriately to assignments and report writing.

In diferentiating between Knowledge and Skills; Which one do you think is more important?

One of my favorite opening activity is the story about the knowlegeable professor and illiterate boat boy.
Professor who had earlier boasted about his knowledge in all the ".....logies" to the illiterate boat boy had to shout for help to the boy who was a skilful swimmer when faced with sinking in a boisterous storm.

What is knowledge?
What are skills?

Is there a place for combination of knowledge and skills in teaching, learning and teacher preparation in our colleges and facilities of education?

Let's discuss?