EdTech
Nearly every aspect of our lives has been altered by technology, and education is no exception. One of the fields where technology has had the biggest impact is education. At all educational levels, from primary school to higher education, it is becoming more and more crucial. Technology has improved how education is delivered. Since various innovative techniques other than traditional classroom instruction have been found, imparting knowledge to students has become incredibly simple. Technology has many beneficial effects on education, but it also has certain drawbacks.
Advantages
Makes Students More Engaged and Helps Them Retain Information
Picture a bored student. The cliché easily comes to mind because it is so common. He or she gazes out the window, recalling that movie or TV show from last night. Perhaps drumming fingers on the desk, the student tunes out the teacher’s words with more entertaining thoughts. In short, they are entirely unengaged.
Now, take that same young learner or teen and plug them into a tablet or other device and watch the involvement in the learning process take flight. The interactivity excites, drawing the learner in. Not only do students feel motivated and energized by technology in the classroom, but they also participate in active learning, a most worthy educational goal.
Accommodates Multiple Learning Styles
- Auditory learners respond best to spoken rather than written words. For these pupils, recorded lessons, audiobooks, and podcasts can effectively be woven into lessons.
- Visual learners rely more on sight than sound, however. They read faster than auditory learners and tend to pay more attention to details when reading. When it comes to integrating technology into the classroom for these types of students, ebooks and interactive whiteboards are good choices. In addition, PowerPoint lessons with graphs and other visually-oriented materials such as videos are beneficial.
- Tactile learners find active learning best, so teachers can encourage them to use their sense of touch. This often presents a challenge for them and their teachers. Especially in the past, traditional teaching was primarily thought of as a one-way street. Under that model, students were forced to sit in seats for a long time listening to the teacher or writing exercises. Tactile learners are more likely to get bored and distracted under those conditions. Fortunately, this is where technology shines as it is very hands-on. Allowing students to hold devices, click on mice, and swipe screens is especially tactile. It helps these kinds of learners by appealing to their sense of touch.
Educational technology allows a wide variety of materials for students to use in terms of learning. Since there are different preferred learning styles like kinesthetics, audial, and visual, having access to a vast array of tools can allow students to study subjects in a more customized way. For instance, student a may prefer to study by reading a pdf file, while student b may prefer to study through an audio format. Through educational technology this can become possible. These advantages can be encouraging for students to learn better at their own pace, instead of feeling limited to the material traditional methods can merely provide.
Another advantage of education-based technologies is that it allows students to be able to access material anywhere at any time. Instead of having to carry heaps of books and notebooks wherever they go, students only need to have their mobile phones or other electronic devices with them and a stable internet connection to study wherever they please. This can also motivate students who prefer to study outdoors and other places such as cafes and coffee shops to open their learning materials more often. Students who are tied to their homes and inside the classroom to study can oftentimes feel disheartened to see learning in a bad light. Thus, for them learning can be a repetitive chore instead of something that can be enjoyed and be passionate about.
Disadvantages
Students may become distracted by Technology when it is present
Children who play video games may exhibit behaviors reminiscent of addiction. More than anything else, they are preoccupied with the entertainment they are given. The youngster may be more focused on what they get from the program or app than what they are learning if the educational setting uses reward-based activities to promote learning. Correct responses can be a sign of expertise, but information retention might not be as high as anticipated. To ensure that healthy outcomes are possible when using technology in the classroom, teachers must establish and enforce healthy boundaries.
Cheating may be simpler thanks to Technology
Recall the TV shows and motion pictures when young people would trespass into a teacher’s classroom, grab the test’s solution manual, and then jot down all the information on their wrist, shoe, or piece of paper? A pupil can now text oneself that information. Anyone else with a phone can receive such data from them. This information can also be transmitted via email. When a precise assessment of a student’s knowledge is required to assess the student’s overall progress, there must be tight guidelines in place regarding the usage of technology during quizzes or examinations.
A resource that not all family can afford
In the modern world, affordability is a concern, whether technology is used at home or in the classroom. Some families are unable to afford computers for their children to handle their schoolwork. Some school districts don’t have enough money to cover their employees’ annual salaries, much less purchase modern educational technology. When we emphasize using technology in the classroom, we significantly penalize those at the lower end of the pay range. Greater access for students means they can access lessons more frequently and learn more, which increases their exposure to information and raises their chances of success.
The use of Technology in the classroom may contribute to certain children's health problems
Eye strain could result from gazing at a computer screen for an excessive amount of time. Signs of this illness include back pain, neck pain, headaches, lethargy, blurred vision, and difficulty concentrating. Early myopia is an issue that can result from protracted, excessive computer use; it affects those older than 12 at a prevalence rate of more than 60%. Some people may develop this health issue gradually, so how much time they spend on their phones, tablets, and televisions may also have an impact on their eyes.
IMPACT
Classes from 10 years ago were usually monotonous and were taught in dusty blackboards and thick books. Listening to the dull and repetitive lecture felt like weeks. Everybody had been drained from trying to figure everything out. Staring outside the window at the chirping birds hanging on the tree branches. The sound of the creaking door can be overheated even in the last row. Students sit on their desks with their palms on their chins, waiting for the bell to ring and rush out of the four corners of the classroom to greet everyone they knew in the hallways.
Technology has played a big part on students’ education and teachers’ teaching grounds throughout the years. We are now exposed to a compelte new world which is ruled by technology and governed by the internet. It has created a practical and easily-accesible teaching and learning environment. The transition over time has dramatically benefited everyone. It has improved the availability of information, improved teamwork, better class engagement, comprehension, and enhanced complex matters.
The internet has narrowed the barriers of information on the world. The teachers engaged in collection of diverse information with enhanced learning tools to simplify the concepts. School has become a lot more interesting and interactive. Students do not have to list 20 pages for a definition of something. They can simply ask for a copy or take a picture of it. They have immediate access to anything they want to learn more about and are merely dependent on teachers for information.
Throughout he use of technology, students basically have the world on their hands. They can learn anything they want with just a few clicks. It has improved cooperation among students despite the distance. It has also lessen the money, time, and energy wasted on hours searching the library. It has able to let the students and teachers interact easily without wasting time on class meetings.
Students are in charge of their own learning and technology has leveled the playing field in various ways. It has made a huge impact on education. Yet, everything has two sides on a story. Only if technology is applied correctly, it can be an exceptional ally in education.
