I'm not surprised in the least over any of this. As a former teacher for middle schoolers, I have seen the many changes over the years. Even as a teacher you have to find ways of making children understand that learning and retention is the best way to get by in life.
Also as far as using tablets or iPads or such, for the instructors we no longer have Chalk Boards in our schools but have gone to the Electronic Whiteboards. I remember back when I was in school the newest thing was the overhead projector
. As long technology keeps improving then all must keep up or get left behind.