The incorporation of technology in education has created many positive effects. It allows students to access helpful websites and learning materials. 

Post-Covid, the technology integration has heavily increased across all grade levels. Now, students in kindergarten are using technology right off the bat. 

This new addition to the classroom is not negative, and it leads to many positives if done right. Students get the chance to learn computer skills at a young age, such as Excel or Google Sheets, internet research, and the proper use of AI, which will prepare them for future classes that will include those baseline skills.

Not only this, but the new technology comes with new resources that the students can use to help reinforce their knowledge in every subject. Websites like IXL, NoRedInk, Khan Academy, and more help students to practice in fun ways. Some technology also helps teachers identify which areas students are struggling with. 

The use of technology in schools is not new, but it certainly has been amplified since the onset Covid and remote learning. With so many students in the area and throughout the country having access to their own Chromebook, the flexibility of learning has increased. Remote learning is now a normal occurrence when there are snow days or any disruptions to in-person class time. This allows teachers and students to avoid falling behind and stay on pace with their learning.

With AI and technology being more prevalent and encompassing more aspects of life, building these essential skills as soon as possible is necessary. Schools should be applauded for incorporating them in the curriculum rather than pretending this tech does not exist. It will benefit students’ futures and prepare them for real-world situations.

While technology in schools offers many benefits, there are also significant drawbacks to the increasing reliance on digital tools in the classroom. One major concern is that schools now depend too heavily on technology. 

With younger elementary students often having their own personal devices at home, they do not need to be exposed to technology for long periods of time in schools. Their assignments and activities should be mainly on paper or hands-on for the sake of their development, such as developing fine motor skills through crafts and handwriting.

Furthermore, students nationwide should only be given their own school Chromebooks at the middle school level. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, most districts did not give out personal Chromebooks to elementary kids. Children in elementary school do not need another device at home; some may not have responsible guardians, which would lead to excessive screen time through the Chromebooks.

Visiting a school computer lab once or twice a week should provide ample time to teach younger students what they need to know about computers without overexposure. On days when school is canceled for extreme weather, elementary students should be able to enjoy their day off without additional responsibilities.

Then there is the tech issue of privacy in schools. Baldwin-Whitehall School District wisely has released a new policy banning Meta Glasses because they can record audio, images and video without others knowing. But phones and Chromebooks can still be used to record students, which can lead to bullying online.

Further, for students of all grade-levels, staring at screens for long hours can lead to eye strain, headaches, poor posture, and decreased attention spans. Depending entirely on digital devices all  day long could lead to them losing the ability to focus on non-digital tasks and losing social skills.

Finally, academic integrity can be compromised. Students across almost all grade levels have been using AI to cheat. They will continue to do so as long as they have access to AI, no matter how many detection websites are used. This exposure to AI is detrimental to their education and intelligence.

The world is changing in many ways because of technology. Although it is good to prepare students for the outside world, schools should keep as much traditional learning as possible.