Technology is somewhere between being a blessing and a curse. While technology metaphorically and quiete literally opens the doors for people to be able to explore and learn about almost anything it also stands as a learning barrier.

While other schools encouraged and sometimes even supplied computers to students , my high school encouraged students to take notes by hand in a notebook, old school style. I never realized how this would help me learn and remember things so much until I got to college.

In college seeing other students take notes on their computers is the norm. I too, started to take notes on my computer in some of my classes. As soon as i started to do this, I saw how it affected my ability to remember the notes and my overall grade.

Let's be honest, listening to an hour and a half lecture can get boring and sitting in front of a computer becomes tempting. I remember sitting in class and seeing people online shop, watch netflix, or even do work for other classes. I too fell victim to this. When class would get boring I would search the web. However, instead of searching the web for words that the proffesor used that I did not know, I decided to search for new outfits.

This is just one of the sad effects that technology has on our learning capabilities.

I also remember my high school english teacher always advocating students to "actively read". By this she meant that it is important to have whatever your reading as a hard copy in your hands. That is not the only part to actively read though. She also meant that you should highlight key ideas or points that stick out to you. By doing so, it will be eaiser to remember.

Today, I understand and agree with my high school teacher. My college proffesors seem to upload almost everything online if it is not in the textbook and I must admit that I have a hard time remembering the content if I read it directly frm my computer.

Overall I do believe that the internet and technology are innovative means opinging the doors to communication and education, if they are used properly. Therefore, people (myself included) who have access to technology should not take advantage of it. When it comes to education, do not let technology curb your learning capabilities.