Teacher Urges Permanent Chromebook Shutdown for Students
Teacher Ditches Chromebooks for Paper-and-Pencil Lessons in LA High School
Marcie Samayoa, a high school chemistry teacher in Los Angeles, has made a significant change in her classroom this year. She has decided to stop using Chromebooks and return to paper-and-pencil lessons.
During distance learning, Samayoa used digital notebooks to keep all information in one location on students' devices. However, she found that students were getting distracted by their devices, often streaming Netflix and YouTube before class.
To combat this issue, Samayoa has implemented a new system. Students are now given a folder system to organize their papers, and five minutes before class ends, they dedicate that time towards organizing their folders. Classwork is now done on paper and mini whiteboards, with students using the notes for retrieval and spaced practice.
The change has been well-received by students, with comments such as "Miss, I'm learning a lot here" and "I like paper." One student even said, "I like paper."
Samayoa's school allows teachers to have autonomy in their classrooms, and she believes that this freedom has allowed her to make a positive change. She plans to use computer-based simulations in her science classes to help students understand abstract concepts, but for now, Chromebooks are kept in students' backpacks most of the time, and students complete most of their work with paper and pencil.
Samayoa found it overwhelming to manage Chromebooks in the classroom, as they were causing more harm than good. A 2021 survey from the EdWeek Research Center found that 90% of district leaders provided devices to every middle and high school student, while 84% provided devices to every elementary school student. However, more than half of educators, according to a separate 2025 EdWeek Research Center survey, said that off-task behavior on laptops, tablets, or desktops is a major source of distraction that cuts into student learning time.
Samayoa has transferred lab procedures to Google Slides to make it easier for students to demonstrate understanding without spending time on aesthetics. She also believes that having a class dedicated to teaching students how to use technology effectively would be beneficial. For now, she is focused on making a difference in her classroom and helping her students succeed.
