How Technology Affects Education Introduction As the Internet and other types of technology begin to advance, schools are trying to find ways to use them in the classroom to have a positive effect on student life, improve students collaborate with their peers and improve their technical skills, but is technology a distraction? Technology provides many new ideas and skills that could benefit students' lives in the future. But are there any downsides to using so much technology in the classroom? Because technology is such an important part of so many people's lives, it is almost necessary to include it in the lives of all students. Recent studies show the benefits and problems of trying to impose technology on students. Technology is a distraction The obvious answer is yes, technology is a huge distraction. Teens are major users of all types of technology, including cell phones, computers, iPods, etc. There are many different reasons why the use of technology should not be allowed in the classroom, but there are many different reasons why it should be. One of the main problems associated with using cell phones/laptops at school is lack of concentration. Bob Sullivan explains in his article that studies show that students who are interrupted by their cell phones score 20% lower on their tests (Sullivan, 18). This is the result of lack of concentration. Nowadays, if you asked a teenager what was more important, school or cell phones, most of them would probably say cell phones. A second study showed that even students who are extremely capable of concentration are still unable to do homework continuously for two or more minutes without being distracted by their phone (Sullivan, 18). ....technology. When it comes to learning from a teacher or learning on your own via a laptop, in some cases it is easier for a student to be able to teach themselves. References Gonchar, M. (Array). Retrieved from http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/are-you-distracted-by-technology/?_php=trueCator, K. (0). Retrieved from http://www.digitalpromise.org/how-technology-spurs-collaboration-among-students/Rodgers, W. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/schools/rms/faculty/wrodgers/technology int/students.htmlSullivan, B. (May 18, 2013). Students can't resist distraction and neither can you. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/students-cant-resist-distraction-two-minutes-neither-can-you-1C9984270Singh, R. (n.d.). Retrieved from website: http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html