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<span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><b>The Institute for Ethics in Public Life invites you to join us for "Should We Ban Screens from the Classroom?" On Wednesday, March 25 at 3:30pm. This panel discussion will feature Dr. Heidi Schnackenberg, Dr. Kathryn Alton, Mr. Adam Staab, and Ms. Hannah Anctil, and will be moderated by Dr. Alison Puliatte, Assoc. Prof. of Education and Fellow at the Institute.</b><br> <br></span></span><div style="margin-left:40px"><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>In recent decades we have seen an <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2013/06/29/catching-on-at-last&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw0Yjelgu4JceBBr4pIMWFXm" target="_blank">increased adoption of technology in classroom</a>s. This was driven by <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/07/22/together-technology-and-teachers-can-revamp-schools&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw0I07tZfADqpuRzMhxHnNGb" target="_blank">arguments that we could improve learning by increasing the use of technology</a> in the classroom, as well as that it would <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gcu.edu/blog/teaching-school-administration/how-using-technology-teaching-affects-classrooms&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw04SQ8VTA2I7WmiD6NznNPX" target="_blank">improve equity by removing the digital divide</a>. This was seen as<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.economist.com/international/2018/11/17/in-poor-countries-technology-can-make-big-improvements-to-education&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw3Bnn4Akmbx3Zho22YCsha6" target="_blank"> particularly impactful for poor countrie</a>s. From smart boards to computers and tablets to educational software K-12 classrooms have been transformed by tech in recent decades. </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span> </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>However, in recent years technology in the classroom has increasingly been questioned. This isn't really surprising, since over a decade ago there was already <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw3k0h5HJqBb3uL9tyGMtPZn" target="_blank">research </a>indicating that using laptops and tablets to take notes was inferior <span>for student learning</span>than taking them on paper.  The movement to ban cellphones from classrooms, while not related to education technology <i>per se</i>, is becoming <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/09/03/schools-should-banish-smartphones-from-the-classroom&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw3rZvGTCKZFH6Sco9Iw6rPF" target="_blank">a broad international phenomenon</a> as evidence has mounted that cellphones and social media is harming the mental health of young people and interfering with their education by distracting them. The increasing use of computers in the classroom and educational technology is itself being criticized on the grounds that it is "<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/01/22/ed-tech-is-profitable-it-is-also-mostly-useless&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw3Ky3TYTmdEWxBfhd8JHYPF" target="_blank">profitable but mostly useless</a>", or even harmful for student learning (see <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.afterbabel.com/p/false-promise-of-device-based-ed&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw2K64ZJffhi3bfJDWfBE-Qf" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.afterbabel.com/p/the-edtech-revolution-has-failed&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw05Ot7BA-aIRFTgX70r4C9k" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.afterbabel.com/p/sophie-winkleman-tech-schools&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw06hAdheK0FGci3VAsdxnBg" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.afterbabel.com/p/edtech-tragedy&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw1YxlvUPJavFzbNMHdJstLe" target="_blank">here</a>). Not surprisingly, edtech companies are pushing back by claiming there is "<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.afterbabel.com/p/edtech-borrowing-zuckerbergs-playbook&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw3vaz1gUGcfC38XqaEv0X2y" target="_blank">no evidence of harm</a>" from their products.</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>We are now seeing governments becoming more skeptical about technology in the classroom. The most aggressive policy is that of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.upworthy.com/gen-z-technology-schools/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw2XwcEjXDrK6DBrgsjlkjxA" target="_blank">Denmark, which has largely banned devices and edtech from the classroom</a>. By going back to physical textbooks and assignments with minimal device usage for the 2025-26 school year they are already seeing beneficial impacts in the classroom. </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span> </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>So, should we all be banning technology from our classrooms as a way to improve student learning? </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Panelists include:</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Dr. Heidi Schnackenberg, Co-Chair and Professor of Education</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Dr. Kathryn Alton, Assistant Professor of Education</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Mr. Adam Staab, NYS Master Teacher, High School Mathematics Teacher, Copenhagen Central School District </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Ms. Hannah Anctil, Teacher Candidate, SUNY Plattsburgh</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span> </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please join us in person in the Thomas Moran Seminar Room of the Institute for Ethics in Public Life (Hawkins 233) or on Zoom (see below). </span></span></span> </span></span> </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span> </span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Topic: Screens in the classroom</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Time: Mar 25, 2026 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Join Zoom Meeting</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/83209769108&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774372609260141&usg=AOvVaw219KttMDj2J_ZkwdClqPBK" target="_blank">https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/83209769108</a></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span></span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>Meeting ID: 832 0976 9108</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span></span></span><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>---</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>One tap mobile</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>+16469313860,,83209769108# US</span></span><br><span class="gmail-kma42e"><span>+19294362866,,83209769108# US (New York)</span></span>
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