The effective Use of Technology in Education has changed the face of education and it has created more educational opportunities. Both teachers and students have benefited from various educational technologies, teachers have learned how to integrate technology in their classrooms and students are getting more interested in learning with technology. The use of technology in education has removed educational boundaries, both students and teachers can collaborate in real time using advanced educational technologies.
Technology has helped in the growth of mobile learning and long distance learning. The use of internet technology has enabled teachers to reach students across boarders and also students from developing countries have used internet technology to subscribe for advanced educational courses.
Recent advancements in educational technologies have yielded positive results in our education sector. This new educational technology is supporting both teaching and learning processes, technology has digitized classrooms through digital learning tools like, computers, iPads, smartphones, smart digital white boards; it has expanded course offerings, it has increased student’s engagement and motivation towards learning.
NOTE:
- Technology should not replace teachers. Its main use is to enable students learn better through increasing their engagement in educational activities.
- Technology is not having cool ipads or expensive gadgets; it is about the learning process. Technology has to improve the learning process and aim at improving student’s grades.
- Technology has to facilitate and stimulate individual learning. Students should use technology to learn on their own with limited help from teachers.
ADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Technology Unlocks Educational Boundaries: Technology supports Virtual or Online Learning. Unlike physical classrooms, online learning is flexible and students from different geographical locations can attend the same class with no need of traveling from those locations.
Technology Simplifies Access to Educational Resources: Technology helps students gain access to open educational resources. These resources are kept under the public domain and are freely available to anyone over the world-Wide-Web. These educational resources include electronic books (e-books) , pod-casts, digital libraries, educational games, educational videos and instructions, tutorials and much more.
Technology Motivates Students: The use of computer based instructions makes students feel in control of what they learn. Students find it easy to learn with technology because
computers are patient compared to humans.
technology Improves Students Writing and Learning Skills: The use of computers in the classroom has helped many students learn how to write well composed sentences and paragraphs. Computers have word processing applications which students use to take notes in the classroom, these word processing applications have built-in dictionaries which help students auto-correct spelling errors and also correct their grammar in a sentence.
Technology makes subjects easy to learn: Different types of educational software are designed to help students learn various subjects easier.
Promotes Individual Learning: Technological tools like cell phones and internet give students an opportunity to learn by them selves. Many students prefer teaching them selves and discovering content by them selves, this process allows them to test various options to solve a given task at school. Students use interactive educational games and software to develop different academic skills.
Supports Differentiated Instructions: Teachers can use technology to cater for each and every student’s needs in the classroom or out side of the classroom. The use of classroom assessment software and performance tracking programs helps teachers plan for each student basing on their performance and learning capabilities.
Increases Collaboration between Teachers and Students: The use of advanced communication technologies in education helps teachers reach their students easily and it also helps students reach their teachers or fellow students in real-time.
Prepares Students for Tomorrows Technological Jobs: As the world develops, every job in the future will require applicants to have some technical skills. So the use of technology in education prepares our children for tomorrows advanced working conditions. Students use computers in the classroom to develop creative applications which can be used on cell phones or tablets for educational purposes.
Increases Students Innovation and Creativity: Many teachers have discovered that integrating technology in their classroom increases student’s engagement in the classroom.
