Lately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have been using computers and technology to keep up with classwork, even as we have returned to in-person classes. Is this the solution, or should we revert to pencil and paper?

To me, it depends on the way someone learns. I know many people that learn using writing techniques and taking intricate notes. However, some people learn simply by typing it online. The easier, the better. 

Many students were given computers to take notes and get assignments done. But could they replace writing as a whole? Let’s map out a few pros and cons of each method. 

Computers create a more engaging environment and can produce active participation. It’s also a different learning style. Computers are a large part of the world now and introducing computers to students at a young age can help them with day-to-day things in the future. We also get advantages from computers such as various note-taking tools, presentation software, and self-assessment. Another big advantage of taking notes on a computer is the storage capacity. Students losing notebooks and pencils happens all the time, but if all that information was stored on one laptop, taking notes and storing them would be so much easier.

However, there are many downsides to having computers in the classroom. They can easily distract students and cost a lot of money. Cheating is also a huge con of computers. When students have access to the whole internet at their fingertips, they’re going to use it to their advantage. Another disadvantage is technical problems that may come along with laptop use in the classroom. However, the pros do outweigh the cons and computers should definitely continue to be used in the classroom. 

This doesn’t mean that we can’t still use a simple pen and paper to take notes. Notebooks help teach students to stay organized in the way they present their thoughts. A lot of apps will provide pleasant backgrounds and such, but writing things down can help a student’s mind. There are fewer distractions as well. When students are on a computer, at any second, they can move on to another tab and do whatever they please. Taking notes by hand has been proven to help many students also. 

Students at Green Level will be provided with both, but some students prefer computers over the traditional notebook. For instance, Alexandra D’mello, a sophomore, says “Computers all the way, it’s much more efficient and easier to keep up with.”

The method of learning truly depends on the student but I believe that computers in the classroom can continue to be somewhat of a benefit if used correctly.