This student not a fan of tech devices

In this new century of technological advancements, we as a society have excess to a multitude of electronic devices - tablets, computers, phones, smart watches - at our disposal.

As a society we are so accustomed to use electronics in our everyday lives, from communicating with others, using it in a work area or in administrative functions,and now it has started to reach the schools as well. But is changing the whole realm of paper copies, textbooks, and even pencils to tablets and styluses a positive thing?

Skeptical adjustments are created as you transition from using paper and pencil your whole educational career to being handed an iPad to help you learn. The physical aspects of school learning - grabbing a notebook, a pencil and writing key concepts down - are slowly vanishing due to the mass presence of technology available in schools. Staring at a screen all day won't give you the same learning experience than having a book or piece of paper in front of you.

Also, the amount of distractions that occur because of the iPad are astonishing. It creates this illusive environment that seems to be productive by the eye, but the reality is students are distracting themselves from the school work in front of them.

Some students might enjoy the convenience and the multiple learning tools that come equipped with a device, but for myself, a junior in high school who's had to use an iPad since freshman year, I would prefer to take notes in a notebook or buy a book rather than download it in iBooks. Doing so provides a more in depth learning experience that keeps me focused. Learning with paper and pencil isn't half bad; we've been doing it our whole lives. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Haley Anne Lucero

Glendale Heights