As technology is rushing towards us, schools are getting more digital than physical. The age of paper and pencil has shifted by the use of chromebooks in school. Chromebooks are a versatile type of laptop. They’re fairly cheap, and schools from 4th grade are now housing them! Light, collaborative, and time-saving, what could be wrong? However, even the technology with the greatest benefits can have awful, even devastating drawbacks! These upcoming facts may tip the scale of this argument.

Chromebooks, as I said before, are not expensive. Most schools will probably be able to afford one per student. They save time, have effective battery usage, and are easily portable! Chromebooks have effectively changed the course of learning. Papers and binders are easily transforming into easily accessible, google drive files!

But Chromebooks can also shift environments in sly, yet disasterly ways. Chromebook usage can limit face-to-face conversation, when students faces are stuck to a blaring screen. Like all screens, screen staring can be painful, and may result in light to very serious effects. Also, though not too often, students can send and have sent mean or inappropriate messages through social providers like Gmail. And almost everybody, myself included, have been guilty of gaming during class. Sure, class may be boring, and I get that, but gaming when you could be learning is just hurting yourself!

On the flipside, let’s not forget that Chromebooks do provide an effective method of online communication, both at home and at school. Talking with teachers and students online can be more effective than face-to-face conversation, as this doesn’t involve you marching to their face. And through google drive, nearly unlimited data can be stored on your Chromebook, compared to a heavy binder stocked with papers!

Unfortunately, because of the fact that these are not expensive, these bucketheads can’t store applications. Chrome is the only Internet browser, and I know of some kids who struggle with Chrome’s properties. They aren’t too flexible, and they lack customization and individuality.

In addition, Chromebooks are fairly fragile. A couple drops, and it’s pretty much gone. The fine won’t make you bankrupt, but it’s not a pretty price to pay.

So what do you think? I’m not favoring any side so far, Chromebooks seem to have equally beneficial and harmful status. Should schools ban Chromebooks, or will schools allow Chromebooks to create a digital world outside the classroom? Enjoyed reading this? Smash that Like and leave your thoughts down below if you would like!