Technology has invaded the classroom. Students today use computers for many tasks, including reports, presentations, and tests.
The Internet has also brought a host of technological tools into the classroom. Instead of watching an educational TV show, students can now play interactive games and compete with each other to promote the learning process.
The use of technology has obvious advantages. There are also potential risks that need to be considered when introducing technology into the classroom environment. The pros and cons of technology in education apply to K-12 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs available today
List of Benefits of Technology in Education
Give credibility to the teacher.
They didn’t have to wait 45 minutes for a new website to load through a slow modem. You will never know the thrill of being in an AOL chat room. Teachers who embrace technology bring a level of credibility to their knowledge for this generation that enables educational applications in many subject areas. Even a single technological tool can have a big impact on the modern student.
Gives access to many resources instantly.
Not so long ago, students were forced to carry heavy textbooks to class every day. Now, most of these manuals are available online and can be accessed through a computer. Organizational platforms complement e-books and other tools available through technology to make the learning process agile and efficient.
Automate the boring stuff.
For teachers, technology in the classroom is also important. There are participation tools available today that can begin to automate the qualification process. Software platforms make it easier to track individual student performance, identifying gaps in learning more quickly. By further automating the tedious work of teachers every day, there is more time for actual teaching and less time at home reviewing work.
Create a collaborative learning approach.
When students of any age are in a learning environment based on a lecture format, the amount of information they retain can be as low as 5%. For many students, the classroom experience was based on an “expert” using their classroom platform to disseminate knowledge. Technology has brought collaboration to the classroom. Students learning in a collaborative environment can retain up to 80% of the information they study. And, if interactive practice is included as part of the classroom, information retention levels can reach 95% for some student
It’s an easy way to learn basic job skills.
Almost everyone has an online connection today. Students learn to limit personal information in a secure environment when technology is introduced in the classroom They can create presentations. Writing documents using formatting guidelines. They learn to research new topics and correctly obtain the data they find. All of these skills are vital for the modern workplace, and today’s students have the opportunity to master them before they even start looking for work.
Allow the classroom to reflect modern times.
Students need to be able to look to the future as they walk into their classroom each day. Going back to the past can provide some joy in nostalgia, but it will not prepare students for the challenges of a society rooted in technology. We can certainly learn from the past, but we must also be prepared for what the future holds when its veil is lifte
You can put all the necessary data in one place.
Technology provides various platforms and applications that allow teachers to combine and use all the information about their students that may be useful. This could include everything from your attendance history to your math proficiency. Once collected, this information can be used to identify areas where intervention might be useful. It can also help teachers group students together who may benefit more from learning together than learning apart.
Allow students to work at their own comfortable pace.
Schools still have rigid schedules, but technology takes some of the rigidity out of the frame. Technology allows students to work at a pace that suits them. Curriculum requirements or programs can be more easily adjusted to meet individualized needs to enhance the learning process. It can even be used for distance learning opportunities if the classroom stimulus is too much for the student.
