Senator Seifried, Representative Caldwell Host Interim Study on Technology, AI in the Classroom

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, and Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, on Tuesday hosted a joint interim study to explore whether the use of technology and artificial intelligence in the classroom helps or hinders student learning.

The study, held before the Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee, which Seifried chairs, comes after the two legislators passed a statewide “bell to bell” cellphone prohibition in schools for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The lawmakers invited John Rex Charter School teacher Melanie Darter and Moore Public Schools Director of Educational Technology Brandon Wilmarth, who spoke about how and when they incorporate technology in the classroom and the benefits and challenges of digital learning tools. National education and neuroscience experts also spoke about how students learn better and retain more information through face-to-face instruction and by putting pen to paper.

Dan Buck, a former teacher and assistant principal who now serves as a policy analyst with the American Enterprise Institute, presented data showing that approximately 55% of students spend up to four hours of the school day on school-issued devices, while another 27% exceed five hours of screen time daily. He also noted that the use of school-issued devices surged during the pandemic, making them nearly universal in classrooms now.

To limit screen time in schools, Buck recommended three key policy proposals. He suggested holding Edtech vendors accountable if their products aren’t improving education outcomes, prohibiting social media and ensuring computers are used only for educationally necessary purposes.

“We have to ask whether technology in the classroom is actually moving the needle for student learning,” said Senator Seifried, vice chair of the Senate Education Committee. “Technology can be a helpful tool for teachers who have already mastered their craft and can use it to optimize instruction. But as a primary teaching tool, it should be used with caution.

“One of the key takeaways from today is that if technology or platforms are not producing meaningful results, those dollars might be better invested in proven supports — whether that’s additional reading specialists, teaching assistants, or even increased teacher pay — resources we know directly help kids succeed. At the end of the day, the question is: Does education technology support learning better than traditional methods?”

Caldwell, who chairs the House Education Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee and serves as the vice chair of the House Education Oversight Committee, stressed that schools should use technology as a tool, not as a teacher.

“With cell phones out of the classroom, it’s time to take a closer look at how other forms of technology are affecting our students,” said Representative Caldwell. “Our focus must remain on what best supports learning, not on what’s trendy. While technology has its place, it must serve education, not the other way around. True learning comes from balance, and innovation should complement, not replace, traditional teaching methods that build focus, curiosity, and critical thinking. In the end, technology should be a tool, not a teacher.”

Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, cognitive neuroscientist and co-founder of Learning Made Easy Global, used the analogy of learning to drive a car as it relates to learning.

“If you first learn to drive a manual transmission, adjusting to an automatic is simple,” he said. “But starting with automatic means you may never develop the full skill set. Education is the same way. Students who first master the harder, foundational work — handwriting, mental math, focused reading — build the cognitive strength to adapt and transfer skills in any setting. But when we rely too heavily on computers as primary teaching tools, we risk letting students offload effort instead of truly learning. Technology has its place once expertise is established, but our priority should be investing in the proven supports that help children develop strong, lasting foundations.”

To watch the full study, visit okhouse.gov.

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For more information, contact: Sen. Ally Seifried at (405) 521-5555 or Ally.Seifried@oksenate.gov or Rep. Chad Caldwell at (405) 557-7317 or Chad.Caldwell@okhouse.gov