Technology is affecting different aspects of our life. In the learning environment, the integration of technological innovations can be both beneficial and problematic for students.
Today, education technology has become more relevant because millennials and the gen X, who are now teachers and parents, have a good grasp of devices. Whether it comes to the use of digital tools like projectors and tablets and affordable essay writing services like CheapWritingHelp.com, the variety of options can cover most educational needs. Despite the multiple innovations, you can’t turn a blind eye on the drawbacks of using them in the classroom.
The Pros of Technology in Education
- Engaging young people. A huge variety of excellent online learning projects and educational resources has moved teaching in an environment that is more convenient for students of different ages. Rather than associating studies with boring lectures and tiresome tasks, students receive a great opportunity to learn whilst having fun.
- Making tedious teaching tasks automated. There are lots of online tools that can automate grading and track students’ academic performance. These tools enable streamline grading for research, analysis, and discussions.
- Getting instant access to information. Easy access to information makes the student’s learning experience much easier. Learning becomes more collaborative, while research becomes faster and more efficient by the use of the Internet.
- Making education accessible for all. Technological development has resulted in a whole new spectrum of options for students of different ages and social categories, from across the globe. Thus, every person with a stable internet connection can attend a course of lectures at Oxford University joining online streaming. Also, you can obtain an academic degree by joining an online university. An excellent opportunity for students to engage with other young people across the world has turned into an integral part of their lives.
- Preparing students for the future. By creating emails, following good online etiquette, developing presentations, and recognizing reliable sources on the Internet, students master all the essential skills they might need after graduation. Understanding technology is crucial in the workplace and other areas of life.
The Cons of Technology in Education
- Getting left behind. There is always a possibility that online learning and education technology have moved the orientation away from classic teaching methods and classroom activities. While the benefits are immense, there is also a risk that the integration of excessive resources in one direction may cause a particular vacuum behind.
- Making extra difficulties for an older generation. It is still difficult for some older teachers to get along with technologic innovations. Their lack of experience with computers makes them face all the criticism for being ‘old-fashioned’. It is crucial that governments provide special training for all teachers to get familiar with new e-learning options.
- Having extra expenses on electronics. Many schools, colleges, and universities have already made a step forward in e-learning. However, it is crucial to remember the educational institutions in poor regions, where small budgets cannot cover the needs for education technologies. In many countries across the world, students still have to use old computers, which are not sufficient for the number of students. Meanwhile, the use of tablets, projectors, and other interactive tools is beyond dream. Moreover, not all students have computers at home, so they definitely cannot manage online assignments outside the classroom. Thus, when we talk about education technologies, we should also mention the financial resources required for their integration.
- Facing possible distractions. Whilst the internet offers a vast array of amazing educational resources, it also hides pretty many distractive tools. Students will always have the huge temptation to check their account in one of the social media or have a break on one of the gaming platforms. Thus, the efficiency of education technologies can hardly be possible without thorough control of electronic parameters by teachers and parents.
- Getting involved in indirect teaching. With a missing face-to-face contact, the connection between teacher and students becomes considerably weaker. The risks for some students to get missed from the radar cannot be ignored. Thus, it is important that face-to-face involvement and classic teaching approaches keep being used along with the new technologies.
Closing Note
The new opportunities presented by education technology are very exciting. However, it would be sad if this excitement makes you miss the valuable personal educational concepts established by teachers many years ago.
So, are there more pros than cons to using education technology? More likely yes than no! We are living in a digital world, so students have to interact with technology all the time. The benefits of integrating digital devices in the classroom are far-reaching. In fact, they need to be addressed by modern educators who are responsible for preparing students for adult life.
