Technological advancements have helped us create more comfortable day-to-day routines and lead easier lives. The same goes for education, which proved true during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Not only did it produce satisfactory results, but it opened new doors to introducing educational technology to daily learning.
Many of today’s high-demand jobs were created in the last decade, according to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). As advances in technology drive globalization and digital transformation, teachers can help students acquire the necessary skills to succeed in their careers of the future.
How important is technology in education?
The COVID-19 pandemic is quickly demonstrating why online education should be a vital part of teaching and learning. By integrating technology into existing curricula, as opposed to using it solely as a crisis-management tool, teachers can harness online learning as a powerful educational tool.
The effective use of digital learning tools in classrooms can increase student engagement, help teachers improve their lesson plans, and facilitate personalized learning. It also helps students build essential 21st-century skills. Virtual classrooms, video, augmented reality (AR), robots, and other technology tools can not only make classes more lively but can also create more inclusive learning environments that foster collaboration and inquisitiveness and enable teachers to collect data on student performance.
The main perks of having technology by our side
Technology has made learning easier for students, as access to information has never been simpler. With a ton of resources being largely digitalized and online, students do not need to spend hours at the library to find all the data they need.
This is not only true for accessing content, but also for writing papers, facilitating the learning process, and much more. In turn, students don’t spend that much time looking for information but can dedicate their time to classroom activities, which also impacts test scores and learning.
Every student has a unique approach to learning. So, introverts might prefer to put on their headphones and cram in their rooms, while extroverts tend to rely on auditory, visual, and other forms of studying. This is where technology steps in — students can make their own choices and rely on tech-dependant products that they deem necessary in the learning process. One of those might be campus, an application that helps navigate campus life and student orientation in different academic areas
In recent years, we have learned that relying on modern tools in the classroom can make the learning process and related activities feel more engaging. That’s true because technology has the power to appeal to multiple senses and increase students’ interest in the materials.
That’s why professors and TAs should use technology to boost students’ confidence in the classroom, motivation, attendance, and so on. This way, the educators encourage students to sharpen their critical thinking and become more confident in front of their classmates and faculty members. Also, this develops a more hands-on learning experience, which is necessary to meet the demands of today’s society.
Educational Technology Challenges
BuiltIn reports that 92 percent of teachers understand the impact of technology in education. According to Project Tomorrow, 59 percent of middle school students say digital educational tools have helped them with their grades and test scores. These tools have become so popular that the educational technology market is projected to expand to $342 billion by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum.
However, educational technology has its challenges, particularly when it comes to implementation and use Additional concerns include excessive screen time, the effectiveness of teachers using the technology, and worries about technology equity.
Prominently rising from the COVID-19 crisis is the issue of content. Educators need to be able to develop and weigh in on online educational content, especially to encourage students to consider a topic from different perspectives. The urgent actions taken during this crisis did not provide sufficient time for this. Access is an added concern — for example, not every school district has resources to provide students with a laptop, and internet connectivity can be unreliable in homes. Additionally, while some students thrive in online education settings, others lag for various factors, including support resources. These students may have relied on resources that they no longer have in their homes.
Can Technology Replace Traditional Learning?
Although this is a difficult question to answer, technology cannot replace traditional learning in its entirety. It isn’t equal to the conventional campus atmosphere, but it plays a big role in improving traditional learning. It also helps the environment become more collaborative, effective, and accessible.
Technology makes subjects more interactive, engaging, and easier to learn. It opens doors for professors to realize what students are capable of and how far they’ve come. Furthermore, students have access to online lectures even after hours, allowing them to multitask and focus on other important responsibilities.
About Author
