As technology permeates every corner of daily life, digital learning has become an inseparable part of a student’s experience. The classroom is no longer merely a space to follow a teacher; it is a digital platform where students interact, share content, and receive knowledge through screens. Yet, this transformation blends knowledge with emotional isolation. Educational expert Maha Shhadeh warns: are we truly teaching students, or immersing them in a digital experience that diminishes human interaction?
Can Technology Replace Human Connection?
Some students today report that attending online classes is more comfortable than being in traditional classrooms. Digital platforms allow them to review lessons, participate in activities, and receive instant feedback. Yet, they obscure the human experience: eye contact, smiles, body language, and even emotional dialogue among peers and teachers.
A 2024 study by Harvard University, Digital Classrooms and Emotional Engagement, found that 68% of students relying on distance learning experience higher social isolation compared to peers in traditional classrooms, and 45% struggle to express their emotions during learning.
Maha Shhadeh’s central question: Can digital learning truly compensate for the emotional warmth of a real classroom, or is every screen interaction limited to information, neglecting the human dimension of knowledge?
The Gap Between Knowledge and Social Growth
A recent UNICEF Education 2025 report revealed that students relying excessively on digital learning show weaker communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills. While their ability to access information grows rapidly, social and emotional development remains limited.
Shhadeh emphasizes that even teachers face a major challenge: how can they assess emotional engagement through digital platforms? How can they detect which students need psychological support? The crucial question arises: who controls learning—the technology or the human?
Educating in the Age of Screens
Maha Shhadeh stresses that digital learning must be a tool, not an end:
Provide direct human interaction: Even in digital classrooms, live meetings, dialogues, and activities that enhance student engagement are essential.
Emotional education: Teach students to manage emotions, express feelings, and solve problems collaboratively.
Balance technology and reality: Use digital platforms to convey knowledge, not replace human experience.
Potential Consequences of Neglecting the Emotional Dimension
Shhadeh warns that ignoring emotional aspects may lead to:
Early social isolation
Weak conflict resolution and teamwork skills
Loss of empathy and human communication abilities
Will we raise a generation capable of critical thinking and human connection, or a generation skilled with screens but unable to embrace others or understand emotions?
Conclusion
As Maha Shhadeh highlights, digital learning is a powerful tool, but it lacks the human spirit. Without integrating emotional interaction, we risk raising a generation proficient in knowledge yet weak in relationships, unable to manage feelings, and incapable of empathy.
The key question for every educational system and parent is: are we teaching children how to use technology wisely, or are we letting screens educate them?