Is the Laptop the New Worksheet?

It used to be that schools were criticized for asking students to fill out too many worksheets during their time in class.

Now it’s schools being chastised for using ineffective educational technology that is not delivering desired results when it comes to student learning.

In an article posted by EducationWeek last week (2/11/26),

“The heavy use of technology in K-12 schools – from 1-to-1 computing programs to artificial intelligence – is causing some policymakers and parents to call for educators to dial back their use of educational technology.”

“One reason for the pushback, according to Richard Culatta, the CEO of ISTE+ASCD, a professional development organization: Schools haven’t explained to families and caregivers exactly what their children are gaining from all these laptops, tablets, and learning platforms.”

Parents have become skeptical of educational technology impact.

“Nearly 7 in 10 parents said they did not support schools using AI software to store and analyze students’ grades, assessment data, or other personal information, according to the annual PDK poll on the public’s views on education….”

The biggest problem is that most classroom teachers have not received the proper training to lead young learners as they work to be better readers, writers, and problem-solvers by using up-to-date educational technology.

“Culatta…argued that educators aren’t trained well in how to use technology tools.”

“’We would not be here having this conversation if we had prepared educators effectively for the amount of technology that is in their classrooms,’ Culatta said.”

The personalized learning lab school we started back in 2014 taught us a few lessons about educational technology:

1. Adult learning leaders need training and time to select the best technology resources to provide young learners.
2. Educational technology should be used in tandem with in-person teaching and learning.
3. Learning goals should be crystal clear as to what the individual learner wants to learn, how they will know that they learned it, and what will be done if they didn’t learn it.
4. Parents should be educated by their adult learning coach(es) about the benefits of online learning, along with how online technology can support their child’s learning.

When I worked with the Houston public schools, the district decided to purchase a laptop for every K-12 student. That decision made national news. But there was a problem. Not enough teachers knew how to use laptops as assistive technology, and not enough students knew how assistive technology was going to be used to help them become better readers, writers, and problem-solvers. So what happened was that the individual learner’s laptops were used as agenda builders, notetakers, and word processors. Their real value – like connecting to the best teachers around the world – was never utilized.

Sadly, that continues to be the condition of most K-12 systems – investing in devices that aren’t connected with learning outcomes.

Til tomorrow. SVB