By Odari Gervais
Technology has changed the way school works, and honestly, it’s not all bad. In many ways, it has made life easier, especially when resources aren’t always guaranteed. Instead of having to carry heavy textbooks or hoping a teacher remembers to print extra worksheets, students can access everything from laptops, Chromebooks, or even phones if that’s all that’s available. Platforms like Canvas, Clever, and Microsoft Teams help keep grades, assignments, and announcements in one place… well, most of the time.
There are real advantages. Parents can check grades without waiting for report cards to hopefully make it home. The teachers can give quicker feedback on assignments, and students can turn in work even if they can’t make it to school that day. Tech is giving everyone access to make research easier and more accurate with the options of using informational videos, and online discussions that make learning more engaging and sometimes even kind of fun. No matter the family dynamics tech has allowed more chances to stay connected, catch up, or get extra help without needing expensive supplies.
But let’s be real: it’s not always smooth.
Having constant access to grades can feel like having a scoreboard following you around. One missing assignment and suddenly it feels like the whole world is ending. Jumping between three or four different apps just to find homework can be confusing, and the notifications never stop. There are reminders, messages, alerts, updates. It can feel more like running a tech support desk than being a student.
Then let be honest about the challenges of the Wi-Fi issues that happen at the worst times possible. When we lose the signal during a test or the computer decides to update, the frustration hits everyone. Schools in under-resourced areas often deal with older devices, slow networks, or not enough equipment for everyone, making the digital learning world feel more like a challenge than a convenience.
All this screen time also makes school feel a little less personal. At times it can be easy to miss important announcements with all the notifications, and it is harder to stay motivated when everything happens behind a screen. Even though technology is supposed to make things easier, sometimes it ends up making school feel overwhelming and mentally draining.
The truth is, technology has both big wins and real challenges. When used well, it helps students learn faster, stay organized, and prepare for the future. But without balance and without equal access, it can cause stress, confusion, and burnout.
Technology can be a powerful tool. It just needs the right support, the right resources, and a reminder that behind every screen, there’s a student trying their best to learn, grow, and keep up in a digital world that moves fast.
