Digital devices and apps can be great tools in schools. They can also be a classroom distraction or even a weapon.
Some students spend so much class time on their smartphones, commenting on social media or texting their friends, that it hampers their learning. Some school children and teenagers have used their phones to bully or sexually exploit their classmates, or post videos of student fights on social media. And classroom devices like Chromebooks and iPads, which can be helpful, can also sometimes enable distractions and facilitate problems like bullying.
I write about technology in schools for The New York Times including innovations, like artificial intelligence-powered chatbots and classroom tutoring bots. This year, I’ve also been reporting on school tech problems — including an article about a group of middle school students who impersonated their teachers on TikTok, and a podcast on high school boys who used A.I. “nudification” apps to make fake nude images of their female classmates.
To better understand tech use and misuse in schools and inform my reporting, I’d like to hear from teachers, students, parents and school administrators about your experiences. I’ll read each submission and may use your contact information to follow up with you. I will not publish any details you share without contacting you and verifying your information.