At Iselin Middle School in fall 2025, teachers and students are questioning whether paper work helps learning more than chromebooks, as technology use in classrooms continues to grow.
Many schools across the country have turned to chromebooks as their main classroom tool. While they provide easy access to assignments, they also bring challenges, especially when it comes to focus and understanding.
Some teachers or students at Iselin middle school said that paper assignments can sometimes be more effective.
“They are pretty distracting because of games in the chromebook,” Mr. Andrews said.
He explained that the distractions from online games often keeps students from completing their work on time.
“They were working on a project on their chromebooks and some students had nothing done because they were playing games,” Mr. Andrews said.
Some teachers also believe that using paper can help students better process information.
”Students writing on paper is more real and lets them have feedback and helps them remember what they’re writing down,” Mr. Andrews said.
Another benefit, according to some teachers, is that paper assignments improve thinking skills.
”Paper work helps students improve critical thinking skills and practice their writing,” Mr. Andrews stated.
There are also concerns about addiction to games and distractions.”
It’s important to have control and not play games because they can become addictive, which is not good for you,” Mr. Andrews said.
When students are playing games or doing something on the chromebooks they shouldn’t be doing. The teachers use Goguardian or walk around the classroom to see if everyone is doing their work.
Not all feedback is negative. However, some students enjoy the balance of using both computer and paper work.
“Some are happy about it,” Mr. Andrews said. “Having some assignments on chromebooks and some on paper, and going back and forth between the two, is better.”
Teachers say the debate over paper versus chromebooks will likely continue as schools look for the best way to help students learn.
“Writting helps you put your thoughts in order on your own without the computer,” Mr. Andrews said.
