While the technology available to students today can serve as an aid to learning, it can also hinder them, both in and out of the classroom. Students should not rely on iPads and laptops in class and utilize handwriting as a method proven to have more long-term benefits.

Starting in 2014, Hackley has distributed iPads to every incoming freshman in order to provide a way to easily access books and Hackley online, as well as various other websites and apps used in class.

These tablets are used daily in most classes throughout the Upper School. Whether it be physics or English, iPads can be a useful tool when it comes to organizing work, looking at electronic books, or watching supplementary videos. Junior Benjamin Ostfield said, “I think it’s a good idea to provide students with a device to use for school. An iPad is better [for taking notes] because they are easier to access later.”

Junior Silas Lenihan said, “I think it’s good that everyone gets an iPad so they have equal opportunity to do their homework. Not everyone has the ability to use a computer to do their homework.”

In addition to the iPads, students are given the option of bringing laptops (or other tablets/devices) to class. This applies especially to the current seniors, who did not receive iPads (because the program started a year after their freshman year). Since the distribution of the iPads began, most teachers now require a device in class, regardless of what grade it is.

iPads and laptops can serve as a helpful tool for organizing work and unifying a class. They can also serve as a distraction, and aren’t as effective for remembering information long term. “I think people get distracted by their iPads. I’ve seen people playing games and going on other programs during class,” said junior Caroline Stevenson.

An NPR article by James Doubek talks about a study done by Pam A. Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel M. Oppenheimer of the University of California, Los Angeles that found taking notes by hand is typically more effective than a laptop or tablet because of the need to go slower. Writing information by hand forces the student to be selective in the information they write, causing them to process it further. When students types out their notes on a device, they tend to try and write the lesson verbatim, which is not an effective way to remember material.

In addition to not remembering information as well when using a tablet or computer, these devices can serve as a distraction during class and while doing work elsewhere. Logging onto Facebook or playing a game is just a click away and often times, students find themselves focused on unrelated matters. Not only does this distract the individual student from class, but it draws in their peers as well, which can eventually lead to a pause in the class if the teacher has to get involved.

If students find they need a device to keep their work organized, there are apps where the user can handwrite notes using a stylus or their hand. If handwriting is the issue, there are even apps that will convert a handwritten note to type. GoodNotes 4 is a perfect example of this. The user can create multiple notebooks and then create pages within the notebooks. The app will also automatically convert handwriting to type.

While typing notes on