The Power of Technology in Education
Educational facilities around the world are discovering how technology can empower educators. Educators use a number of technological tools to create a productive learning environment, including smart boards, e-learning, cloud computing, laptops, and smartphones . Technology helps children across the world collaborate together. Worldwide collaboration not only helps teach children a foreign language, but it also helps them learn the different customs around the world.
Educators are embracing long distance learning models through the power of the internet to redesign how children are taught. Today, educators use hands-on lessons, visual lessons, and verbal lessons to enhance the learning experience. Apps, social media sites, and e-learning help teach children how to interact with others around the world.
Connecting children online helps to develop a sense of connectedness to enrich learning on a personal and social level. Cultural barriers are eliminated through technology. Children not only learn to use technology, but they also learn to think of how new technologies can impact their day to day lives as well as how to embrace these new technologies.
When technology is embraced in the educational system, teachers act as co-learners rather than experts. Teachers must continually learn the technology used in classrooms. Teachers can share their struggles with students and allow children to learn as they learn how to use new technologies.
Because children now grow up in a digital world and have been exposed to technology since birth, they are prone to embrace technology in education better than the tools that were used in the past to teach children.
Technology enables supplemental classroom instruction as well as opportunities to receive college credit (dual enrollment). For those who are behind in their studies, credit recovery programs and summer school programs can be offered through online classes. Online instruction can be provided by the local school or through private online learning providers.
Many schools are developing blended learning opportunities. Blended learning involves online learning, as well as face-to-face instruction. The curriculum is designed to ensure all learning styles will be included in the lessons. Blended learning opportunities ensures that children who learn through hands-on experience, visual learners, and auditory learners will all have a chance to learn using their unique learning techniques.
Long distance learning saves on the cost of instructional materials and helps teachers better utilize their teaching times. Online educational opportunities are especially beneficial for children who live in remote areas. In rural areas, schools may not have access to the latest instructional materials. However, thanks to technology, instructors around the world can overcome these difficulties and provide all students with a high quality education.
Edwin Hutchins developed a theory referred to as Distributed Cognition. This theory explains how people, tools, and the environment work together to create one cognitive system. Educators have embraced Distributed Cognition in the classroom. Technology allows teachers and students interact with one another in a variety of environments, including classrooms and informal settings while using a variety of tools, such as simulators, games, and hands-on activities.
Classrooms around the world offer instructor led online classes featuring video instructions, in-person labs, and interactive classroom activities to stimulate learning using a variety of techniques. Using numerous techniques ensure all students remain engaged and learning. This type of teaching is especially beneficial when teaching complicated subject matters.
Technology allows parents and teachers to actively take a role in a child’s education. Rather than expecting children to deliver a teacher’s note to their parent, the teacher can now use technology to send a message to parents via email, apps, or text messages. These technologies ensure parents stay abreast of their child’s achievements as well as where additional help is needed.
Educational technologies help to decrease the amount of paper used, thus helping with environmental issues. Teachers can now assign classwork and homework that is completed on computers or tablets. When the students finish their work, they can submit the work electronically. Additionally, e-Readers have made it possible for students to use digital textbooks.
Most children are addicted to technology. They have grown up with computers, tablets, and game consoles in their homes. Students often spend hours on social media sites. By offering online interactive presentations, technology driven discussions, as well as in-class instructions, teachers can help children embrace technology while learning.