It is undeniable that technology touches every part of our lives. It is also true that it can enhance both teaching and learning. The good news is that more and more learning institutions are embracing technology in the classroom as they too have started to realize the benefits of using technology to teach and how it can impact learning outcomes. In this article, we will look at ways in which technology is changing the way teachers teach and learners learn.
Technologically Enhanced Classrooms
Before we look at how technology is changing the learning landscape, it is important to understand what a technologically enhanced classroom is. A technologically enhanced classroom is a classroom that embraces the use of technology in the way teachers teach and how students learn. You can view it as a classroom that embraces the use of computers, projectors and other types of technology. It has been shown that different learners learn in different ways and opening up classrooms to the use of technologies can help tailor lessons to students to ensure they have the tools that enable them to learn best.
The term “technologically enhanced classrooms” is tied to the term “technologically enhanced learning”. This is simply the application of technology in teaching and learning. It is important to understand that this definition is left so broad and vague because different learning institutions can have personalized technology options depending on what they feel applies best to their learners. For example, if you are at a college, you might be more used to learning on a computer than someone in a grade school, so the tools you use might be a lot more sophisticated.
What are The Benefits of Using Technology in the Classroom?
One of the biggest advantages of using technology in the classroom is that students can learn at their own pace. Traditional classrooms can make it hard for students to learn because the teacher usually sets the pace for all their students. This makes it challenging for students who need a bit more time to understand difficult concepts to keep up. Students who need this extra time can repeat lessons as many times as they want when they embrace technology, which makes for better learning outcomes.
Teachers can also set different levels of difficulty for different students. Some students grasp concepts easily and can handle difficult concepts and lessons better than others. Some need things explained to them in a much simpler way. Technology helps teachers tailor lessons to different students so they can understand what is being taught, no matter their level of understanding.
Technology also opens up a lot more teaching resources. It is no longer the case that students need heavy and expensive textbooks as their learning companions. It is now possible for students to access thousands of websites where lessons are posted.
Using video, audio and interactive learning, teachers now have many more ways of teaching. This means they can find more creative ways to pass information across, which leads to better engagement and a more hands-on way of teaching.
Technology can also keep students engaged. Textbooks are boring lines of black text on a white background. This can be tiring, especially if the student has to read a long chapter. Technology can make even the most boring lessons come to life, which keeps students engaged.
Lastly, technology prepares students for the real world. It is impossible to survive the working world if you do not know how to use the different pieces of technology available.
The Value of Technology in Higher Learning
Thanks to the wonders of distance learning, college students can study without sitting in a classroom. It’s now possible to study a range of courses, including masters, doctorates, and more via distance learning modules. This is encouraging many people to go back into the virtual classroom to improve their prospects.
Modern students understand the value of using technology both inside and outside the classroom. For example, many MBAs already have valuable technology skills that make them better prepared and qualified for the working world. There are also MBAs with a focus on technology for those that want to take their learning to the next level.
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Guest Lecturing Is Becoming the Norm
Teaching used to be that the students and their teachers or lecturers would meet in a hall or classroom for a particular lesson. Sometimes, guest lecturers and teachers could come in if there was a special topic to be discussed. This made the work of these guests harder because they had to commute between different learning institutions.
Now, all a classroom needs is a computer, a projector, and an internet connection. Renowned scientists and specialists in different fields can now pass their knowledge to students no matter the school and no matter where they are. This has not only made it easier for them, but it has also made it easier for learning institutions to incorporate more specialized lessons, especially when students need some clarification in highly technical subjects and topics.
Teachers Love it Too
Teachers love using technology because they feel it enhances their teaching but is not trying to replace them. They can have much more interactive lessons, especially when there is a lot of theory being taught.
Teachers also say that they have seen an increase in the retention rate of information in their students. Students who have grown up with technology find it easier to retain the information they read on their phones or computers than they would from a textbook. This makes a very good argument for adding technology to classrooms.
Teachers also have the latest information when they come to class. We all understand that information changes very quickly now and textbooks cannot adapt fast enough. Now, a teacher can look something up online and know what the latest information is on the subject.
There are also models, visuals and other aids that teachers can use to prepare for their lessons. All of these tools can be found online and can even be downloaded as software onto phones, computers, and tablets so teachers always have access to them.
Arguments Against the Use of Technology in Classrooms
One of the biggest caveats of using technology in the classroom is that it can be abused. In the early days, students were able to access websites they should not have and also play games in the classroom. This flagrant abuse of technology is now mostly curtailed through the use of software that allows students to access just what they need for the lessons they are taking.
There are also fears that the overreliance on technology might make younger students addicted to technology. Several studies have come to this conclusion and it is something that teachers and parents have to keep an eye on.
Lastly, there is the argument that technology can lead to lower information retention levels although teachers dispute this. The argument for this school of thought is that students now have all the information they need on their devices and they can access this information in seconds. Why, then, would these students commit to retaining this information in their heads if they always have it on them?
Some of these arguments are legitimate but the bottom line is, technology has changed and revolutionized how students are taught and learn.
The use of technology in the classroom has a lot of benefits, even if some people argue that the amount students spend on their phones, tablets, and computers should be capped. This argument does not hold up when you check it against all the benefits of using technology in the classroom.
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