Finnish high school reverses digital shift as teacher ditches computers for pen and paper

A growing backlash against digital learning materials has led one Finnish high school to reintroduce traditional pen-and-paper methods, with teachers reporting improved concentration and deeper learning, writes Yle.

Minni Nevalainen, a teacher of religion, psychology, and health studies at Taavetti Upper Secondary School in Luumäki, southern Finland, abandoned computers in her classroom last autumn in favour of notebooks and handwritten notes. The results, she says, have been overwhelmingly positive.

“Lessons have become calmer, and students now focus on the teaching instead of drifting between browser tabs,” Nevalainen told Yle. She noted that while digital tools allowed rapid note-taking, the shift to manual writing has forced her to slow down and prioritise essential content. Consequently, student exam responses have grown more thoughtful and varied.

Second-year student Nelli Kiljunen confirmed the change: “Handwritten notes stick in my memory far better than typed ones.”

The move reflects a broader reconsideration of Finland’s rapid push toward digital learning. Over the past decade, digital materials have dominated classrooms, accelerated by the 2016 shift to electronic national exams and a 2021 curriculum reform that extended compulsory education. Last year, digital learning resources accounted for 87.6% of all upper secondary school material purchases, according to the Finnish Book Publishers Association.

Yet resistance is mounting. At Taavetti Upper Secondary, some students initially opposed the return to notebooks, but school principal Pekka Hyvärinen observed that several teachers—after initial enthusiasm for digital tools—have since reintroduced printed books. The school now uses both formats, reusing textbooks to cut costs.

Pedagogical concerns over cost-driven decisions
The Finnish National Agency for Education emphasises that learning materials should be chosen based on pedagogical merit, not price. However, Tuomo Laakso, an education policy specialist at the Trade Union of Education (OAJ), warned that teachers often lack decision-making power.

“Unfortunately, the teacher’s voice isn’t decisive—even if consulted, the final call rests with the education provider,” Laakso said. Some municipalities have mandated exclusive use of digital materials, a trend Laakso criticised as overlooking how different formats support learning.

A 2022 OAJ member survey revealed widespread teacher concerns that excessive screen time was eroding focus, with students easily distracted by games or streaming during lessons. “No amount of teacher charisma can compete with a computer’s allure,” Nevalainen admitted.

Cities reconsider digital-first policies
The backlash has reached municipal levels. Helsinki’s education department is drafting plans to expand printed material options in upper secondary schools after a student survey revealed demand for greater choice. In Lahti, a city council initiative—backed across party lines—seeks to explore reintroducing physical textbooks, reversing a 2021 rejection of a similar proposal.

First-year students at Kotka Lyceum, Matias Larinkari and Aapo Lonka, reported higher grades when studying from printed books. Their experience aligns with research cited by Antti Pirhonen, a docent at the University of Jyväskylä’s Institute for Educational Research. Pirhonen called Finland’s digital transition “too rapid and sweeping,” noting that a large Danish meta-study found no evidence computers enhance learning outcomes.

“Printed books should reclaim their place alongside other materials,” Pirhonen argued.