Over the past few years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions have been rushing to push almost all educational materials to a screen. Phones, laptops, and other screen-based devices are impossible to avoid. A generation of students has grown up with the temptation and distraction of having a screen in their pocket (or hand) at all times. How much is too much? Are there any ways that schools can start limiting screen time for students? Educators and parents are increasingly asking these questions, and now some local governments are getting in on the act by introducing bills aimed at limiting the use of screens in schools.
In addition to potentially being addictive and used for bullying and other societal problems, screens in the classroom are a huge source of frustration for educators.
Whether it’s scrolling social media instead of listening to lectures, chatting with their friends in another class, taking pictures of classmates or teachers, or otherwise wasting valuable educational time, screens in class are a distraction.
Perhaps just as bad, the ability to use technology to assist students in cheating on tests and assignments is worse than ever. This change has led to grade inflation and a culture of cheating in schools. It is an endless battle for educators to try to ensure students are doing their own work.
Even when used in labs designed for screen use, technology has a way of proving to be frustrating. Inevitably, a battery will not have been charged, someone will forget a password, the internet will fail, lockdown browsers will not be installed properly, or any number of technical issues can occur to waste educational time. Recently, even high-stakes testing has proven to be problematic due to IT issues.
In addition to being detrimental to students, all of this has led to increased job dissatisfaction among education professionals, and the satisfaction rating of K-12 schools is at an all-time low.
Student assessment is one of the many areas that has been changed with technology. However, it is also one of the easiest areas in which to pull back some screen usage. There are many great uses for online, and technology-enabled assessments, but there are also many times when paper is going to be easier, less expensive, and less prone to cheating. Students and teachers know how to navigate paper tests and assessments. It is a familiar format that students have used for ages. The technology needed is limited to a pencil or pen. Paper does not require a password, does not need a battery, and will not randomly freeze in the middle of a test (although the student may).
Remark Test Grading provides instructors with an easy-to-use tool that allows them to return to the simplicity of paper testing, while eliminating the hours of manual correction sometimes associated with paper testing. The software generates custom bubble (OMR) sheets for a test, allows them to be printed on the school’s copiers for a fraction of a penny, and then uses that same copier, or any image scanner, to scan the completed tests and automatically grade them. It can all be done in a few minutes, with a few clicks of a mouse. Remark Test Grading provides detailed reports on the student, test, class, and test items. Data can be broken down by learning objectives to provide more detail to the educator on what their students are struggling with so that they can tailor their instruction to the class, or to individual students. These are things that will improve student outcomes and will improve educator’s job satisfaction.
The debate over screen time isn’t about eliminating technology from classrooms. It’s about using it more intentionally. Digital tools are invaluable for collaboration, research, and creative work. But assessments don’t always need to happen on a device. Consider using modern paper tests as an alternative where possible.
Sometimes the most forward-thinking solution is the one that blends the best of old and new—less screen time for students, less grading time for teachers, and more room for meaningful learning.
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