Similar to Southern Lehigh’s recent move to 1:1 laptop integration at the high school, many school districts throughout the country are handing out iPads and laptops to their students. Some feel that the use of technology enhances students’ learning, while others think it causes distractions in the classroom.

Many think that technology is an effective tool for students to learn with. Studies show that students who learn through the use of websites and online activities understand material better than from reading it from a textbook.

When students at Southern Lehigh received their laptops last year, there were mixed feelings about the idea. However, throughout the year, most students began to appreciate having them.

“I love having a laptop at school. It is so much easier now to look things up during class and to do online activities,” senior Jen Bishop said. “You can also do homework involving the internet during study halls that you would normally have to do at home.”

Students seem to think that the use of technology is helping them to improve in school. They enjoy not being required to carry textbooks around for all their classes, instead using the online version on the laptop. Also, it is easy to access websites for studying.

“I think its helping me do better in school. I can’t study without using quizlet anymore,” Bishop said. “It’s nice to have online textbooks and other resources.”

Other students like having laptops because they don’t have to email their work back and forth, or take the time to put it on a flashdrive.

“It’s nice to be able to have all of my projects and essays right there on my laptop,” senior Julia Lee said, explaining why having a laptop is useful to her.

There are many perks to having technology in the school. One major problem it solves is the textbook issue. Sometimes we don’t end up having enough textbooks for every student. Also, we order textbooks only every so often, so the information in older books may not be up-to-date.

“Textbooks have the same information in them, while the internet is constantly updating,” Mr. Ken Jordan, Director of Technology, said, explaining why he thinks the use of technology benefits students.

Technology also has the potential to be a distraction for students if not managed well. Southern Lehigh has blocked certain sites to help keep students on task.

“Teachers are trained to keep students on topic with their internet use” Mr. Jordan said. “Those who think it is a distraction are usually the people who are not that familiar with technology or just aren’t comfortable with using it.”

Technology does help students in school. Students of this generation have evolved and would rather read online and visit different websites for information than sit and read out of a textbook.