Technology in classrooms impact students is driving schools to rethink screen use as concerns grow over learning loss, distraction, and AI’s role in education.
Students need a reset—socially, emotionally, and academically—as concerns grow over the role of technology and AI in classrooms.
For years, companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft pushed schools to adopt one device per student, promising improved learning and equal access. Now, with AI tools from companies like OpenAI entering classrooms, that effort is expanding. But after billions spent on devices and apps, studies show little improvement in academic outcomes, and organizations like UNESCO warn that too much technology can distract students and hinder learning.
Schools across states like North Carolina, Virginia, California and Michigan are now rethinking heavy tech use. Chromebooks, once central to classrooms, are being scaled back to refocus on collaboration and communication.
“We’re not going back to stone tablets,” said Shiloh Vincent, superintendent of McPherson Public Schools. “This is intentional tech use.”
In the Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the main criticisms of overusing tablets and digital tools in classrooms is that they can weaken authentic learning experiences rather than improve them. When students rely too heavily on screens, learning can become more passive. Clicking through apps or watching videos often replaces deeper activities such as discussion, critical thinking, and problem-solving. As a result, students may complete tasks without fully understanding the material.
Parent groups such as Beyond the Screens have opposed the use of tablets in classrooms, arguing that excessive screen use can negatively affect children’s learning processes.
The shift reflects a broader global reckoning over how technology affects children. A recent jury verdict found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a minor, while governments and states are moving to limit screen time and regulate student device use. Parents and advocacy groups are also pushing for stricter controls on school technology.
In classrooms, the challenges are clear. Students are often distracted by games, YouTube, and messaging, with some even using school tools to bully peers. Teachers report spending increasing amounts of time monitoring device use instead of teaching.
At McPherson Middle School, efforts to limit distractions began with blocking platforms like YouTube and Spotify and restricting messaging. Still, problems persisted, leading administrators to take a more drastic step—removing student Chromebooks altogether.
On a recent morning, the school day began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by lessons on organization and interpersonal skills. Students now use paper planners, focus on in-person collaboration, and even play board games like Uno and Scattergories to rebuild social interaction.
Although the approach may seem unorthodox, educators say it is helping students refocus. The goal is not to eliminate technology, but to restore balance in a system where screens have come to dominate.
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