During the COVID-19 pandemic, students and staff alike adapted to a new way of learning and educating, through a computer screen. Four years later, technology’s role in schools has continued to grow exponentially with no signs of slowing down.
Reliance on technology and the unnecessary digitalization of schools everywhere has become a problem in today’s world. The Department of Education conducted a study in 2014 where they found students find more disadvantages than advantages when it comes to performing assignments online, such as eye strain, lack of concentration, and less reading comprehension. Between internet outages and distracting procedures that interrupt the school day, it may be time to go back to the ever so reliable pen and paper in some instances.
District 202’s recent internet problems on Nov. 11 are a perfect example of where computerization has gone too far. Teachers during many periods of the day were unable to submit their attendance for the day, and while some were able to improvise, many teachers couldn’t access their lessons that they prepared via Google Classroom.
Another example of an online program is Securelypass. Securelypass is an online system that was recently introduced at East to make bathroom passes digital. The process of taking a bathroom break for students was once simple: all that was required was a paper pass signed by a teacher. This new system requires students to go on their laptop to create a pass, fill out a form, ask the teacher to approve the pass, place the laptop in a designated area, and finally use a physical hall pass anyway. The physical pass creates a sense of redundancy when it comes to bathroom procedures, which is a common theme in moving procedures online
An alternative to this process could be a physical pass students keep with them, and can get signed by teachers, similar to the one already present in the Plainfield East planner books. It would still show if students are abusing the system across periods, while also avoiding wasting time.
Many believe that computers help students perform better in the classroom, with easier access to classroom materials and more interactive assignments. While these are great benefits schools should continue to utilize, there are many moments when they aren’t the most effective means of educating.
Overall, while technology’s role in students’ lives is growing and making the high school experience more intuitive, it must be recognized when digitalization is unnecessary and counterproductive in schools.
