Technology is crucial to the development of society, and it's responsible for all medication, infrastructure, and gadgets.  It's hard to imagine the modern world without technology, including education and schools. This generation's education is very much affected by technology, with the invention of the smartboard, Chromebooks, or iPads used to assist students with their schooling. Currently, because of the coronavirus, millions of students in every grade level are attending school remotely. Without the technology of computers, iPads, and applications like Zoom or Schoology, remote learning wouldn't be possible. But even in a traditional school setting, these devices and applications are still extremely valuable to aid students and teachers with teaching and learning. Then what's the downside?

 

In a normal school setting, in a time before COVID-19, technology such as iPads/Chromebooks were distracting. I personally remember in middle school, how every person was playing Papa's Freezeria or Lava Girl and Water Boy rather than focusing their attention on the lesson.  Additionally, concentrating on a screen for several hours daily can cause health problems in the future. So much blue light is causing myopia (nearsightedness) in children and teens. Statistics show that individuals that are aged 12 and up, have a 60% risk of developing myopia. Furthermore, too much screen time can cause a severe condition named "Computer Vision Syndrome",  the symptoms of this condition includes fatigue, eye strain, irritation of the eyes, and blurred vision. Another reason why introducing devices to schools isn't that great, is the fact that technology is costly, and not every school district can afford laptops or tablets to aid their students with learning. This situation gives the students with the access to technology an advantage over the ones that don't have that same privilege. The students that have technology have more resources and additional knowledge due to their access to Google and other sources, causing the not-so-privileged students to have fewer opportunities and a lower chance to succeed in the future. 

 

However, technology helps students prepare for future education and careers.  A lot of jobs currently use technology instead of paper, especially desk jobs. Allowing technology in schools gives students experience with Google and Microsoft, which can be useful in the future. Technology also opens opportunities for teachers to engage their students with online learning games like Kahoot or Quizlet Live. This makes learning fun, interesting, and can engage students in the material. 

 

The world is progressing a tiny bit every day, and so is education. Technology is a major part of our lives today, in education and in our personal lives. Although technology usage in schools has some downsides, it can drastically make a difference in one’s quality of education.