The pandemic was a big adjustment for all of us, but specifically for students who had to adapt to learning in front of a computer at home, rather than in a classroom. 

After transitioning from online school back into actual school, technology never really left, and it is, in some cases, even more predominant than before. There are still many ways in which teachers use computers and phones for learning, rather than paper and a pencil.

There are different reasons as to why this may be.

French teacher Stephen Lambert likes the idea of using a simple paper and pencil but also sees how technology is a useful tool. 

“I prefer old school,” Lambert stated. “But one thing about technology, it’s easier for a teacher to grade. You can grade a lot faster, and you can spend more time actually teaching.”

Lambert believes that when his students use technology, they prefer that, and that encourages further use. 

Lambert shared that he uses Kahoot and Blooket to both review and have some competition in class.

“Some students like that,” Lambert explained.  “I use it for review and retrieval activities.”

Lambert also said that the pandemic seeped into his current teaching style. 

“Some students learn better on a computer, so I had to realize that,” Lambert said.

Coming back in person from online school wasn’t much of a transition for Lambert, as he found it easier to teach in front of the class rather than the computer screen. 

“I’m a much better classroom teacher than I am an online teacher,” Lambert said. 

Algebra and Geometry teacher Michael Mansour offered his experience about technology in the classroom as well. 

“I use technology in my classroom for activities and the lessons,” Mansour said. “We use them for graphing functions, so it comes in handy when students want to visualize how these activities are done.”

However, Mansour believes that the use of technology is just as central now as it was before the pandemic.

“I feel like technology is used at the same consistency,” Manosur explained. “I feel like technology will still be used in future classes.” 

Mansour states that it was a little scary coming off online learning and into the classroom because of the lack of knowledge he had about his students, as they weren’t face to face. 

“I was not really sure how students were because online learning I had no idea what was going on in students’ lives or if they were even there in the first place,” Mansour said.

Like Lambert, Mansour sees the benefits of technology and a simple worksheet. 

“I’m a big fan of paper and pencil, but there are moments when technology is going to come in handy,” Mansour said. 

Another teacher in the building, Marie Taylor, has another approach to phones in the classroom.

“I use it very little,” Taylor said. “Given what we know about how many hours each day kids are on their phones, I would much rather provide teaching and learning opportunities without it.”

Unlike the other teachers, she takes action with a phone box.

“I have a phone box that students are invited to place their phones in at the beginning of class,” Taylor said. “If they choose to do so, they earn a few points each day that can be applied to their grade.” 

Taylor said that she has seen students not only leave class less but also for shorter amounts of time. She explained that there is greater engagement as well.

Taylor does note that there are some benefits, such as being able to quickly find information and connect with people from far away. However, the disadvantages can be considerable.

“The big downsides I see are that when students have access to technology in class, they are much less communicative with their classmates, more reticent to share their opinion, and take social risks,” she said.

Taylor agrees that technology is being used more than it has pre-Covid and online school, and that there are some effects to that.

“There has been a lot of research about what has been lost during online learning, but one of the biggest things I noticed was much more apprehension in social situations,” Taylor explained. 

Taylor pointed out her perspective about why kids tend to overuse technology in the classroom. 

“I think many folks use their phone as a way to hide from real life social interactions,” she said.

All things considered, technology is still very much present in the school, even after the pandemic has cooled down. Many teachers like to incorporate it into their classrooms, while others prefer getting their students off technology in order to learn. No way is bad, but the pandemic and the presence of online school has affected the style of learning in various classrooms.