Understanding the Importance of Technology in the Classroom

Digital methods of teaching are becoming increasingly popular.

Implementing technology into the classroom can provide a wealth of benefits to student learning.

Let’s take a look at how.

Makes Learning More Fun

Technology makes learning more interesting and exciting for students.

Many platforms allow teachers to run live polls, quizzes and surveys, encouraging student interaction and maintaining classroom engagement.

Several studies have proven that the incorporation of electronic devices like laptops, cell phones and tablets can significantly improve student enjoyment in the classroom.

Technology makes teaching more dynamic.

Instead of reading from textbooks or listening to their teacher, students are encouraged to learn proactively, participating more in lessons and collaborating with peers.

Personalize the Education Experience

Digital learning can help pupils progress at their own pace.

Whereas conventional methods of teaching make use of textbooks, whole-class activities and group discussions, individualised learning through technology gives students control over their learning experience.

Digital materials can provide opportunities for new teaching methods.

Learning through website creation, individualized research and video creation can allow students to learning freely and at a speed that suits them best.

Instant Access to Knowledge

Gone are the days of scouring through textbooks for hours on end in search of answers to simply questions

Now, Google, Bing and Yahoo provide an infinite sea of knowledge that can be accessed within seconds.

This is great for students. It allows them to access information instantly rather than wasting valuable lesson time searching for it elsewhere.

Facilitates Collaboration Amongst Peers

Technology is a great way to encourage students to collaborate and connect with one another.

A study into the effects of technology and communication on classroom interaction showed that students were more inclined to work cooperatively, helping their peers learn and create.

As not all students had equal technological experience, incompetent pupils sought assistance from peers that better understood technology.

A social, cooperative learning environment was created.

Group projects like whole-class blogging spaces or website building provide a similar effect.

Students are encouraged to work together.

Tools such as project management software help students work more cohesively and help them stay on top of larger projects.

Reflects the Real World of Work

Though a handful of teachers cling to their paperbacks and chalkboards, the modern world of work is built almost entirely around technology.

Today’s offices are just rooms filled with computers.

Businessmen operate from Macbooks and tablets, not notebooks and pens.

And, as The Inbox reports, 75% of all emails are checked using a smartphone.

Teaching young people the painstaking skill of cursive writing, how to forage through dictionaries or to draft thousand-word essays by hand does little to prepare them for their future career.

These skills rarely prove useful in today’s working environment.

It makes more sense to prepare youngsters by providing them with technological experience in the classroom.

Benefits for Teachers

Not only can technology benefit students, but it can make things easier for teachers, too.

There are countless online resources that can facilitate the teaching process.

Virtual lesson planners, grading software and course construction tools are all easily accessible.

Student knowledge can quickly be assessed using online polling softwares like Poll Everywhere. These allow teachers to push out questions to students’ device, whether it be smartphone, laptop or desktop.

Answers can be collected within minutes and the percentage of correct answers automatically calculated.

With this information, weak areas can be easily identified and worked on further.

Are There Any Downsides?

While technology can provide a number of benefits to classroom learning, there are a handful of downsides to bear in mind.

Lack of Support

Not all children are technologically adept. And neither are all teachers.

The introduction of technology into the classroom also requires the anticipation of technological errors.

If a teacher isn’t experienced in using computers, tech experts will have to be called in to fix any bugs.

This can waste valuable lesson time.

Furthermore, teachers may not be capable of providing students with the technical help they need.

If a student needs assistance in creating a Keynote presentation, for instance, teachers that have little technological experience will be unable to provide this.

This lack of support could be detrimental to students’ educational progress if not preempted.

Time that would otherwise be spent teaching could quickly be lost in finding technical assistance or researching help online.

Extra Expenses

Technology is a very expensive investment for educational institutions.

First are the costs of the equipment itself, which can be several thousands of dollars – not including installation fees.

Even after equipment has been purchased, software updates and maintenance repairs can quickly begin to cost a lot of money.

The successful introduction of technology into the classroom requires not only upfront expenditures, but an ongoing maintenance plan and adequate funding.

A Source of Distraction

While technology can enhance learning, it can also provide young people with a wealth of distractions.

Children aren’t always accustomed to using technology for education. Many students use it for pleasure outside of the classroom.

Bringing smartphones and tablets into the learning environment can detract from concentrated learning.

Online games, instant messaging and social networking can be tempting, steering classroom focus away from the task at hand.

Health Concerns

Spending excessive amounts of time using technology is unhealthy.

Young children can face a range of well-being issues if exposed to technology for extended periods.

Sitting at a computer screen for multiple hours a day, for instance, can cause a wealth of health problems.

Deep vein thrombosis, eye strain and migraines are all potential side-effects of excessive blue-screen exposure.

And that’s not forgetting radiation.

Frequencies emitted from wireless devices can be very harmful.

Subjection to large amounts of radiation from lap-based devices can cause infertility issues and rashes.

More severe side-effects can also occur as a result of DNA damage.

Many epidemiological studies have drawn links between prolonged cell phone/laptop usage and gliomas, a rare form of brain tumour.

Exposing children to classrooms filled with technological devices can increase the risk of such conditions developing.

These risks can, however, be minimized.

Encouraging short breaks every 15-20 minutes will ensure that thrombosis and headaches are avoided.

Students can also be educated on the effects of long-term exposure, allowing them to take precautions at home.

Disregards Variation of Economic Background

Not all school children can afford computers and laptops.

If students are expected to work from these devices in school, those that do not have access to similar equipment at home will be disadvantaged.

Many families can afford textbooks and notepads. The same cannot be said about computers and tablets.

Equality is crucial in a school environment.

Disregarding this fact may not only impair some students’ learning capabilities at home, but could also provide a basis for bullying to occur.

Wealthier children may be unkind to those that cannot afford technology at home.

Conventional methods do not come with this issue.