Even though technology has been around for roughly 50 years, people are only now beginning to fully understand the profound impact it is having on society, mental health and daily lives. Psychologists have highlighted the smartphone addiction’s effects on anxiety and social interactions. For instance, constant social media comparisons can lead to feelings of inadequacy, fueling disorders such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, smartphone addiction often disrupts sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and worsened mental health.
Due to this growing crisis of the effect of technology on adolescents, various school districts have started implementing policies and procedures to combat this issue.
As part of this growing trend, New Hyde Park Memorial High School has implemented a new policy: No Tech Tuesdays. Begun in October, this policy will encourage students to leave their devices at home to reduce their reliance on digital devices.
“I do think the purpose of No Tech Tuesdays is to find a balance in education with using technology and how that balance in technology plays a role in instruction,” principal Ms. DeGennaro said. “For the last few years, we’ve gone full steam ahead with technology and if looking at the results and the implications on learning, we realized that there needs to be a better balance. So the purpose is really for teachers to reflect and evaluate the lessons that they have and not use technology within those guidelines.”
Teachers will have to plan and facilitate lessons that don’t require student use of an iPad. Additionally, students will be encouraged to leave their devices at home to facilitate communication and collaboration.
New Hyde Park Memorial has mixed feelings about No Tech Tuesday. On one hand, some students and teachers are welcoming the chance to step away from their screens. They view No Tech Tuesday as a refreshing change that provides a break from digital distractions.
“Personally, I’m excited for No Tech Tuesdays, but I feel it might be difficult to go the whole day without devices, especially in classes where notes and other materials are usually given to us on the iPad. I think this weekly break from technology will allow me to focus more in class, because sometimes with the iPad out I get distracted doing other things instead of paying attention,” sophomore Sania Naqvi said.
Others have reservations about the initiative as the absence of technology could disrupt one’s academic routines and daily responsibilities.
“I believe it will make learning more difficult. Although decreasing technology usage does seem like a good idea, most of our classes have made the switch to digital learning, or at least rely on it in some capacity. Its effects would vary from class to class, but a significant proportion of teachers would have to take the time and adjust their teaching methods once a week,” senior Clayton Yu said.
“Technology offers a wide variety of pros and cons, and most of the time can be useful. However, without it, classes that require these useful applications such as GeoGebra, Google Slides, or Docs, may have some trouble,” junior Hongfei Kang said. “That being said, going back to ‘old school’ with paper and pens, or using mental math isn’t so bad once in a while. As for researching or accessing resources, it might pose more of a problem as I often do a lot of research while in school. But, if technology isn’t there to help me, the wonderful teachers of NHP are always there to answer any questions.”
Concerns about No Tech Tuesdays are particularly relevant in computer-based classes, where technology is integral to the learning process. Students enrolled in courses such as AP Computer Science Principles, AP Music Theory and Digital Design may find No Tech Tuesday especially challenging.
“I take Science Research, a class that revolves around the use of technology throughout many topics. There are little to no physical resources available in school, such as worksheets or textbooks, that can help with this class,” sophomore Dominic Cyril said.
However, some teachers are prepared to adapt their curriculum to balance technology use with alternative methods.
“It’s an interesting idea and I do think we rely on technology too much, especially cell phones, but students enroll in classes like my digital design class to specifically use Mac computers and learn Adobe Photoshop every day. Many years ago when I first started teaching, due to a lack of enough Mac computers and high enrollment, I had to create many alternate-based projects, so I’ve done this ‘tech-free’ approach before,” art teacher Mr. Vedder said.
“I will alter my plans slightly to include activities, discussion prompts, and reinforcement games that students can participate in that might help them to plan out their next assignments/projects, verbally practice presentation skills and strategies for public speaking, and actively participate in puzzles and coding concepts outside of the computers and iPads,” computer applications teacher Ms. Flood said.
The implementation of No Tech Tuesdays has sparked a mix of enthusiasm and concern among students and teachers about its impact on learning. As the year progresses, teachers will be required to come up with tech free approaches that suit their teaching style and course best.
