Kristiana Trinidad
Advertising Editor

As time goes on, schools are becoming more and more comfortable with using technology as one of their primary tools for teaching, especially for high schools and colleges. It wasn’t a mistake to call this school Advanced Technologies Academy because A-TECH is probably the epitome of using technology, especially computers for education.

The homework assigned by teachers seems to require some sort of technology for completion. Taking quizzes online to save time in class is done so frequently that it isn’t seen as a big deal, especially in AP classes. Instead of getting a paper copy of an assignment, many classes have resorted to posting digital copies to Web sites in order to save time and paper. Even calculus and algebra classes are following in the majority by making it a requirement to own a graphing calculator.

A recent trend, not only at A-TECH, but in other high schools all over the nation, is to take virtual classes instead of going to summer school. Classes are even available throughout the semester for those who wish to get an early credit or retake a class for a higher grade. Now, anyone can be a full-time virtual high school student never having to leave home to learn.

In the real world, technology is used all the time. So, it’s a benefit if teachers prepare students for the future. After all, anyone not familiar with it will be at a disadvantage against those who feel comfortable using technology. Besides, it’s so convenient, so why shouldn’t students take advantage of what’s right in front of them?

Despite the many pros of using technology in school, using it too much has its cons as well. Most of A-TECH will agree that lacking the proper materials at such a technologically-oriented school is a one-way track to failure. Have teachers and students forgotten the small minority of fellow peers who simply can’t afford Internet or even a home computer?

With so many assignment that require the use of a computer, those few are forced to stay long hours in the library or borrow someone else’s laptop just to finish homework. In the end, some students result in failing major or core classes.

Such reliance on technology in A-TECH can even cause problems for students that do have access to computers and the Internet. Since this generation seems to frequently use technology, it’s not exactly a rare sight to have computers crash or faulty printers.

This, in turn, hinders students from completing their homework. It’s a very common problem for A-TECH students.

A-TECH students were aware that a school that specialized in technology needed to use it as a primary learning tool when they enrolled. Teachers should continue teaching in the same style, but it would be much easier on students if some assignments had an alternative for those who can’t easily access a computer or those that encounter problems with their computers at home.