I want to take some time to reflect on one of my peers’ video presentations from this week. Their focus was on old school versus new school technology in classrooms, specifically looking at using tech compared to more traditional paper based projects.

First, the presentation itself was amazing. It was creative, funny, and honestly just really enjoyable to watch. You could tell how much effort went into it, and it made a topic that could feel pretty dull actually feel engaging and easy to connect to.

But it also got me thinking a lot….

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with a friend about how it feels like classrooms are becoming more and more focused on technology. Everything is online, assignments are typed, and collaboration happens through shared documents and on zoom calls. And while there are definitely benefits to that, I have this feeling that something important might be getting lost.

What’s Being Lost?

One element that really stands out to me is creativity. So many projects now are built around digital formats like slideshows or Canva. And while I know they are technically creative options, they can also feel limiting. A lot of the time it feels like you are working within templates instead of actually creating something from scratch.

When I think back to the projects I loved most growing up, they were hands on. I still remember making a solar system diorama with my friends and my dad. Paint everywhere, pieces not sticking, things falling over, and nothing going the way we planned at first. We had to keep fixing things, adjusting, and just figuring it out as we went. It was chaotic, but in the best way. And when it finally came together, I was so proud of it. Not because it was perfect, but because of everything that went into it. It was problem solving, creativity, and honestly just bonding. That is something I feel like technology does not really give you. It is cleaner and more efficient, but it misses that shared mess, trial and error, and that deeper sense of ownership you get from creating something physical.

Another piece that stands out to me is collaboration. Working with people in person, sitting together, talking things through, and reading each other’s reactions feels very different than working through a screen. There is something about being in the same space that makes ideas flow more naturally. You can bounce thoughts off each other, build on ideas more quickly, and pick up on energy and body language in a way that just does not translate online.

Online collaboration is convenient, but it can feel disconnected. It often becomes more about dividing up tasks than actually creating something together. It misses that natural back and forth, those spontaneous moments, and even the small conversations that end up shaping the final product in meaningful ways. And, over time, this shift toward more screen-based collaboration could limit students’ ability to communicate confidently, think on the spot, and build meaningful connections in real-world settings.

All of this has me thinking about what students might be missing in more tech heavy learning environments. Skills like artistic expression and in person collaboration are not just added bonuses, but they shape how we think, communicate, and connect with others.

So What’s The Answer?

At the same time, I do understand that technology has an important place in education. It can make learning more accessible and open up opportunities that would not be possible otherwise. I just feel like there needs to be more balance. I do not think it is about choosing one over the other, but I just think I would love to see more space for those old school approaches again. The hands on projects, the creative freedom, the chance to work together in the same room and actually build something.

Watching this presentation reminded me how much I valued those experiences growing up, and how much they shaped me as a learner. It made me realize that moving forward does not always mean leaving those things behind.

Further Learning

I came across a great write up from The Ithacan that connects to this idea really.

Can Tech Negatively Impact Student in Communication?

It talks about how relying so much on technology in classrooms might actually be impacting students’ communication skills. When so much interaction happens through screens, students get fewer chances to practice things like speaking clearly, listening, and just having real conversations in person. Over time, that can make face to face communication feel a lot harder, which really highlights the need for some balance.