Can Educational Screen Time Be a Good Thing?

In a time when there are multiple studies, news articles and investigations around the dangers of rising screen time usage in young people, it can be hard to find any positive associations with it. Of course, there are real reasons to be wary of increased and prolonged periods of phone, tablet or computer usage, but there might be some instances where educational screen time and resources that are available online can instead be beneficial to help enrich a student’s learning, whatever their age. If you’re looking for ways for students to enhance their education through a variety of different online tools, look no further!

Listen: Educational Podcasts and Audiobooks

Podcasts have been around for a long time now, and there are many that are built entirely around education and entertainment for younger people of a variety of ages and interests. As we know, if we find a podcast we love with an engaging host talking on a topic we find interesting, we can quickly become very invested in what they are saying and want to tune in to as many episodes as possible, which is much the same for younger people. Finding something to capture their imagination can be transformative, and open their minds to stories from other places, periods of time and they might end up discovering a new hobby or interest that unlocks something in them! Podcasts are great to have on in the car for long journeys, playing around the house whilst they’re drawing or eating dinner, or even to play before bed as an alternative to watching television. And the best part is that they’re incredibly accessible, with many podcasts being streamed on YouTube as well as other podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Below is a non-exhaustive list of podcasts for young people and the topics they focus on:

For younger listeners:

• Story Quest (Storytelling)

• Rebel Girls (History, Culture)

• Operation Ouch! (Science)

• Horrible Histories (History)

• Homeschool History (History)

For older listeners (teens):

• You’re Dead to Me (History)

• No Such Thing as a Fish (General Knowledge)

• TED Talks Daily (General Knowledge, Lifestyle)

• Bitesize (Revision)

There are also lots of brilliant audiobooks and audio dramas to be found across multiple platforms and for a huge range of ages to help children and young people engage in a story in a new, accessible and exciting way.

Watch: Learning Channels on YouTube and TV (positive educational screen time!)

Suggesting watching things on YouTube or TV may not be top of everyone’s list if you’re conscious of how your child is using screens, but there are some exceptional resources out there if you know where to look. Much like finding the right podcast, finding an area of interest for your child to engage with can feel like a bit of a minefield, especially as there are YouTube channels to cater for every interest (including those you didn’t even know existed!), and a myriad of both entertaining and educational programmes that will make students forget they are learning.

For example, mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry has her own YouTube channel of short videos that cover a range of topics from myths about eating carrots, to AI programming and why lids of jars get stuck, so there really is something to pique the interest of many learners, including adults! With incredible footage and access to some of the world's most interesting creatures and habitats on the planet, BBC Earth has some brilliant resources on their channel, that are sure to bring the natural world right into your front room. Similarly, National Geographic post original YouTube series to their channel, as well as clips from their longer programmes, which bring cultures, people and places to life. Whether you want to help your child with their Geography homework, or even expand their knowledge from something they have an existing interest in, these are just a few places you could look.

For older students who might be taking their GCSEs or A Levels, there are some wonderful resources on both the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company YouTube channels respectively, who have brilliant and specific series for plays on the curriculum, as well as in-depth explorations of behind the scenes work that can help with many areas of the English Literature and Drama curricula. On TV, there are, and have been over the years, some brilliant adaptations of set texts that can help to support a student’s understanding of the work, but can also be a wonderful introduction to a story in a very accessible way. For example, the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice is still on iPlayer (and still stands up!), alongside numerous Dickens works such as Bleak House and Great Expectations.

Explore: Virtual Museum Tours and Interactive Galleries

Going to a museum or art gallery feels like a very ‘offline’ activity, but many of the most exciting global spaces aren’t exactly accessible on a rainy Sunday afternoon, so why not pay a visit from the comfort of your sofa? There are some fantastic virtual tours and resources that multiple museums and galleries can offer that keep young minds (and hands!) occupied, engaged and inspired, whether they’re based in the UK or on the other side of the world.

One of the most famous, and most busy, museums is arguably the Louvre in Paris, and what better way to enjoy it than crowd-free and with the best front row viewing spot to see paintings, sculptures and objects from across the world (check out their online tours here). Some top London museums and art galleries offer the same, such as the British Museum, Natural History Museum and National Gallery, where you can have a closer look at many of the exhibits to satisfy a current dinosaur obsession, help with homework on the Ancient Egyptians, or prepare for some Art coursework. Google Arts and Culture is also a terrific resource, which can take you to New York, Seoul, Paris and Berlin, amongst many others, in one short scroll. They have 1,200 galleries and museums listed on the site, where you can view the collections and take incredible, ‘street view’ tours of the museums themselves. There are resources created specifically for the site, with showcases on certain artworks that change daily, and information about collections all in one place.

Of course nothing compares to being in a museum or exhibition space, but these virtual resources make these spaces incredibly accessible, easy to navigate and great for students at all levels, whether for learning or for fun!

We hope you enjoyed reading about some of the ways that screen time can be beneficial and enjoyable for students of all ages, and to support their learning through many stages of education.

Looking to take your child's online learning a step further?

While free online tools are fantastic for spark-plugging curiosity, tailored 1:1 guidance can transform that interest into academic mastery. Explore how our expert tutors deliver interactive, personalized online tuition tailored to your child's unique needs, or contact our team today to get matched with an expert tutor.

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Blog Post Crafted by Cicely

Cicely works on our Admin Team, and also tutors extensively.

In 2020, Cicely discovered her love of teaching, and has been tutoring English Literature and Drama ever since, as well as running a drama school audition help service with her friend and fellow actor to help prospective drama school students with their audition speeches.

Cicely has had her poetry published in anthologies and online, and in her free time is an avid reader. She loves living by the sea, a good podcast, and taking long walks in the countryside.