As the bell signals the start of class, students sit down and pull out their computers. Across the room, either black school-issued laptops or shiny silver MacBooks decorate the desks. It is a trend that is increasing in popularity, with students opting to bring personal computers to school rather than using the laptops provided by the district.
Carol Faust, who teaches two Advanced Placement (AP) classes and relies heavily on student laptops during class, has determined her own policy regarding the use of personal computers.
“During the regular work week, I’m okay if students want to use their own computer,” Faust said. “On test days, I ask that they bring their school computer so that I can use GoGuardian to keep track of what they’re doing.”
Sophomore Lusa Wornath, who uses a school-issued laptop, believes that access to personal computers can create unbalanced opportunities for academic dishonesty.
“It’s unfair that some kids can use their MacBooks, which are basically like phones, because there’s a lot of kids that cheat, and when you have your Macbook it’s easier to cheat,” Wornath said.
MacBooks can also decrease student attentiveness, with media consumption at the fingertips of students who appear to be hard at work.
“Attention span issues from doing things like playing Minecraft and watching videos on the computer might be an issue,” Wornath said. “That’s why we have GoGuardian.”
GoGaurdian, a program that allows teachers to view student’s laptop activity, has helped to prevent cheating. However, it doesn’t work with personal laptops.
“Some people cheat on tests, and they curve it up,” Wornath said. “It would be sad if someone cheated on a MacBook and the curve went up, that would make other people get a bad grade.”
Sophomore Lucy Kuo, who primarily uses a MacBook, has observed technical issues with GoGuardian when using her school-issued laptop.
“They put so many limitations on our laptops that there’s literally nothing you can do,” Kuo said. “If they took some of those off or just put a little bit more trust in students to do the right thing, it would be better.”
Personal computers can be a double-edged sword. They can help students to complete their work quickly, but can also encourage AI use, which can complete their work for them.
“If you have a tool that helps you do things more efficiently, you should be allowed to use it,” Kuo said. “But if it’s AI, then no.”
Though AI is efficient and can help to boost productivity, it isn’t as helpful as students may think.
“Using AI is detrimental because students can’t really think for themselves,” Kuo said. “They get dependent on a tool that might not always be there.”
While teachers struggle to prevent student AI use, they experience additional challenges from the Wifi issues throughout the school that leave students unable to use school issued laptops and teachers unable to complete lesson plans.
“I do think there are Wi-Fi problems intermittently,” Faust said. “We need it to be reliable and here working enough and able to support all of us every day. So I do think that’s a concern.”
Slow Wi-Fi and frequent glitches have prevented students from using class time to their advantage, though these issues often don’t affect personal computers.
“In history, I spend like five minutes waiting for my computer to load,” Wornath said. “I could be doing work if it would load, and it would probably if I had a Macbook.”
Students with MacBooks have reported increased efficiency and clarity in assignments.
“The internet loads a lot faster,” Kuo said. “The screens are clearer so it’s easier for me to see pictures and text on assignments.”
Teachers largely aren’t strongly opposed to the use of personal computers, but are limited in their control of student’s use of personal laptops.
“I think the only reason they care is because they have GoGuardian, and for tests,” Kuo said. “Other than that, it’s fine.”
Teachers who utilize GoGuardian have noted inconveniences on their end as well.
“I think [GoGuardian] is a pretty limited tool,” Faust said. “I would have to sit there and watch the screen constantly to see if people are trying to look up other things.”
As more students use MacBooks in the classroom, it may encourage other students to follow suit, though cost differences can make this difficult.
“It’s just peer pressure,” Wornath said. “It’s like having a uniform. When people go out of the uniform, then other people are wanting to go out of the uniform too.”
As the school day comes to a close, students exit through the double doors, their laptops weighing equally heavy on their shoulders. Benefits and disadvantages will always come hand in hand with both personal and school-issued laptops.