The future of technology in schools is at a crossroads. Whether it’s AI, e-sports, or phones, teachers, students, and parents are all silently debating topics. These include whether AI should be used in a classroom setting, e-sports benefits, and phone bans. School District Boards around the country are researching and developing new and beneficial rules to allow students to reach their full potential. 

Technology in schools needs to become more beneficial to students rather than being a barrier and a way to get in trouble. For example, new laws and restrictions imposed on personal usage of phones and other personal electronics during school hours for students are a common cause of detention and referrals. 

The start of the school year 2025-2026 brought new changes to how technology is applied in Texas. One of the extensive changes was Bill 1481–Student Use of Personal Communication Devices on School Property. This bans cell phones during school hours, including lunch and passing periods. 

Students follow this law by not using their phones for seven hours. This doesn’t stop students from using their phones or listening to music. Instead, students sneak their headphones and phones, and even use their phones to cheat during tests and quizzes. They take pictures of the question they are stuck on or search it up, oblivious to the teacher. 

Technology usage during tests and assignments is welcoming students to use AI and other sources to find the answer instead of doing it themselves, this also includes smart watches and phones.

Technology can’t be ignored in today’s world, and schools need to adapt to the growing use of AI in the classroom. Students use AI whether teachers like it or not, and nothing can change that. Changing how school policies around AI could greatly benefit students’ education and improve their learning experience. 

Cheating during a test or a quiz has never been easier. With access to Chat-GPT and Gemini, students can copy and paste questions they are stuck on and easily get an answer. Because of this, schools have created programs to administer tests. They are called a lockdown browser, where you can’t leave the tab/website you are in. 

This doesn’t stop kids from cheating. Kids still find ways, whether it’s using their phone to cheat or hacking into the browser itself, cheating still occurs. No AI policy is going to change that. 

AI is an incredible tool to use if it is used correctly. Schools should look into teaching kids how to use AI efficiently, so that they still learn information using AI instead of copying what it says.

Also, when teachers tell students they aren’t allowed to use AI, students feel compelled to use AI. Instead of telling them not to use AI and teaching them how to use AI properly, students won’t feel the need to cheat off AI as often. Cheating will still happen, but it won’t happen as often. 

Cheating is just one problem out of many beneficial effects of technology in schools. E-sports is a prime example of beneficial use of technology. E-sports is an organized, competitive, multiplayer video gaming. Students can play video games to grasp life skills that include teamwork, strategic thinking, communication, and digital literacy. 

E-sports is an inclusive club where students from different backgrounds can play and learn together through video games. Doing E-sports can open opportunities in scholarships and career pathways. Many colleges are offering scholarships for competitive gamers, and students are introduced into career fields of IT, broadcasting, and game design. 

Playing E-sports can also improve cognitive skills; however, an excessive amount of gaming leads to many negative effects. The most common traits of excessive amounts of time spent gaming are aggressive behaviors, eye strain, backaches, and severe headaches. 

Moderating time spent on video games is a crucial factor in having a healthy education. Time melts away the more time you play video games. This takes away from studying and sleep, which affect grades and even students’ social lives. 

E-sports already have a maximum playing time of two hours and mandatory breaks. Schools can use this during testing for long periods of time. Staring at a screen for excessive amounts of time damages students’ eyes, back, neck, and head.

Technology is changing and growing. As it grows, schools need to expand and change with it to further benefit their students’ education and promote healthy lifestyles with technology.