The smell of pencil shavings, chalk dust floating in the air, and the loud humming of an overhead projector defines school for many people. But for others, those characteristics are unfamiliar. Instead, people think of constantly hiding their phones and the glow of laptop screens shining on their faces.
As technology has developed, the use of it in schools has rapidly increased. Technology in the classroom can look like students having computers, teachers assigning online assignments, videos, and more. This created a highly debated topic: to what extent should technology be used within education? And is it actually making education better?
One view of technology in education is that it is a tool to add resources and improve student learning. Aubrey Gamble, a math teacher at Highland, believes it can be effective if managed correctly.
“In math, specifically things like Desmos and those types of tools, I would say are mostly positive,” Gamble said. “Exploring ideas through Desmos introduces the idea for the explanation later.”
Teachers can use technology to support their curriculum and their teaching. Using technology can help teachers increase the speed of their course and the number of resources they use to teach.
Standardized tests, like the ACT and SAT, have moved to online platforms in recent years. Other specific tests, like AP exams, are also online now.
According to the AP College Board website, the AP tests have been switched to online versions to help maintain a secure testing environment and teach students digital skills that they will need in the future.
Because technology has become so frequent in the workforce and society, schools are trying to teach students how to use it.
Many schools offer specific digital literacy classes to help teach students how to navigate and effectively use technology. At Highland specifically, classes like business office specialist, computer science and web development are offered to teach digital studies.
“Technology is ubiquitous everywhere now; students need to know how to use it,” Gamble said.
Technology has also created ways for students to take more classes. Online school programs allow students to take classes outside of the regular school day. This can increase the number of credits they receive and quicken the pace of their graduation.
Most days in school involve online assignments, courses, videos and more. As a result, students are constantly using and incorporating technology into their daily lives.
Some people think that the frequency of technology in education is actually harming students’ learning capabilities and attention spans.
“I think [technology] is crushing some critical thinking skills,” Gamble said. “Students get so used to going straight to looking something up before they even necessarily think about things.”
With the development of AI, students can quickly ask questions and receive an immediate answer. They can also have AI complete their work for them. Gamble believes that this is taking away the actual thinking process and students are not learning as well.
Since the use of technology in schools is so frequent, many students are getting annoyed with screens. Willow Sweeten, a freshman at Highland, is concerned about the amount of time students spend on computers.
“I think technology is being used a little too much,” Sweeten said. “I’ve noticed that grades are depleting because technology can be a bit of a distraction to most students.”
Technology increases the resources available to students, but it also increases the number of distractions. Many computer games and videos can be easily accessible to students. Sometimes, students can even download movies to watch during class. Students pay attention to these things rather than what is happening in the classroom, and it can negatively impact their education.
In a study done by Frontiers in Psychology, people were instructed to write on a paper and then type on a keyboard while connected to devices monitoring their brain activity. This increase in brain activity increases the amount of memory that is retained.
The Frontiers in Psychology website says, “When writing by hand, brain connectivity patterns were far more elaborate than when typewriting on a keyboard.”
The study showed that students retain more information when they take notes or write things down. When they type, it is easier to forget the information. This would impact learning and memorizing things that are taught in school.
“I sometimes get a headache from looking at screens so much,” Sweeten said. “Teachers should have us write stuff down instead of typing things into a computer and submitting documents on Canvas.”
The challenge that schools are facing now is how to create a blended learning environment where technology and interactive learning are both incorporated.
