Throughout the previous century, technologies have been affecting many industries, including medicine, education, healthcare, economy, etc. Education, as a field, faces the challenge of the new knowledge as well as new technology and is forced to adjust to modern trends. Some knowledge that was critical a century ago is outdated now. Today, little children learn to operate new devices better and faster than the previous generation. However, while the overall technological intelligence is improving, there are many reasonable arguments that technology has negatively affected students’ ability to study and memorize. It could be right, but the positive impact of technological development on education cannot be neglected as well.
There are at least 10 incredible ways in which technology is improving education:
Modeling and Simulation
With many technological advancements available at our computers or even smartphones, learning has become easier. When all our parents had was their imagination, we now have digital tools helping us to model or simulate situations that seem hard to perceive. They can be used in different disciplines, from geometry through to interior design. Moreover, it helps not only students but also teachers who find it hard to explain certain things without being able to show how it works.
Improved Research
It is not even hard to believe that our parents’ generation never had Wikipedia or Google to find information or advice. They spend their time in libraries not only for writing an essay or dissertation based on credible sources but also preparing for seminar or discussion. Even though we still go to the libraries, we can find the name of the book and its review on the Internet to decide whether we need it or not. Gone are those times when students needed to go through a pile of books before finding the right one. Today, students are able to incorporate a massive of interesting information into their research.
Online Services
Many companies offer different educational services through the Internet and applications. For example, some developmental apps can be very useful for kids trying to learn colors and numbers. There are also translation services, various grammar checkers and many other educational tools that help young generation cope with an increased workload. Today, you can easily find and hire an assignment writer for your needs that would help you with some of your assignments. They also help you comply with all academic requirements regarding writing and style, while you can concentrate on your other tasks. Even though some educators believe these educational services have a negative impact, it is hard to object to the fact that the overall academic success of students keeps increasing.
Improved communication
Teachers have begun to use advanced teaching techniques available through the use of classroom technologies and the Internet. For example, online or distance learning is available to students who are unable to attend classes. A virtual classroom encourages online collaboration and facilitates group assignments. Through admin panels, modern teachers can assign tasks and track their students’ progress in real-time. Moreover, nowadays, many students have a benefit of communicating directly with their mentors or supervisors through email technology. Their teachers can check and send their files back to them, showing directly where they expect students to make edits. Any collective assignment or discussion can also be continued using video conference or Skype.
Effective Performance Evaluation
In many cases, teachers no longer grade their students’ tests manually. Since many of them can be scanned or are passed on computers, the internal systems and software detect issues that are later submitted to the teacher’s attention. Moreover, better evaluation systems have improved the way teachers are hired and rewarded. Their accomplishments and student success rates can easily be tracked which actually demonstrates their effectiveness in the learning process. These technologies have made education more objective trying to omit human factor as well as positively affected old-rooted teaching methods, making them include technological advancements.
Online Learning
Apart from virtual classrooms discussed above, students have received an opportunity to study what they are interested in. For example, if an English major student wonders about Java programming language, he or she can easily get an idea about it through online courses available to anyone. This fact undermines the way educational systems in many countries are built. Students can choose what they want to know, study it and become professionals in their own niche. This is why many leading employers have already neglected formal education and pay attention largely to the skill set and accomplishments.
Fun Learning
Video games have been there for over 30 years, but they were never taken seriously. However, if applied correctly, this learning method schools neglected for a long time can become an effective tool to learn things that are hard to remember or use in practice. It is a proved fact that people learn better those things that they like. That is why fun learning techniques can incorporate different associations and initiatives to make difficult things easy to understand. Fun and video games learning is the future of education.
Education Policy Change
Bill Gates education has become a term since this philanthropist and billionaire has paid many efforts to change education and upgrade it for every school in the U.S. As a forerunner of technological change and development, he sees the future, and he knows for sure what kind of professionals the world will need in the following decades. His foundation’s mission is to facilitate this transfer period and demonstrate how technologies can be used for the benefit of the educational process in the world. Microsoft’s products have already changed the way education is obtained. He hopes to change education policy for education could become more target-oriented.
Freedom to Personalize Education
You can set the pace to your learning process. No one can push you to learn faster than you can due to personalization which became available with the rise of educational technologies. If you feel that some things require more of your attention and longer time, you add more of such classes into your personal learning program. If you feel that you can skip some parts because you know them – you are free to do it.
Social Networks
Many would claim that social networks only negatively affected education and distracted students. However, they strengthened the school community and brought it to the new level, where students can share information, communicate and have fun with a greater network of people as compared to their real connections. Apart from traditional education, social networks also improved extracurricular participation, overall student awareness about school activities, seminars, and workshops.
Education and technology development are intertwined and mutually related. There is no progress for each one without progress in another. We should care that our children only benefit from technologies in their education because their improper use triggers serious issues, but we cannot prevent technologies from influencing the way we teach our kids and expect them to develop.
Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.
