Why I believe technology is essential in the classroom

As the world advances and we sail further into the 21st century, we see many changes around us that we would have never expected a decade ago. One of those iconic changes is technology immersion in our education system. In early times, the classroom consisted of a blackboard, chalk, and desks to sit on. However, blackboards have been replaced with digital whiteboards, chalk with digital markers, and books with e-books on tablets or iPads. That’s a huge change compared to the resources we had back then.

The paradigm of education has changed a lot now. Teachers are adopting new ways to deliver by experimenting with new educational tools while students learn differently than they used to. High Schools, Universities, and even Primary Schools are gradually shifting from traditional to advanced techniques.

So why do I believe technology is essential in the classroom?

Students can learn at their own pace

Every student has a different learning style and pace. Some can grasp a concept quickly, while others may need a little extra time. Technology provides students with a way to learn at their convenience. Quick learners can skip the steps that seem unnecessary or watch the lecture at a higher speed, whereas students that need a little more can rewind and re-watch to review the concepts they didn’t understand. Furthermore, unlike in a classroom where sometimes students don’t have enough time to comprehend the information during the lecture, students can access the internet, search topics they didn’t understand, and enhance their knowledge through a wide range of digital resources.

Learning becomes fun

Teaching chemistry or physics in a classroom can seem boring because most students cannot relate them to real-life applications. Technology helps teachers make learning fun and engaging so students can connect to the subject via animations, real-life examples, or interactive drawing. All these elements are only possible through digitalizing the educational process. When the subject becomes fun and interesting, the productivity of students rises. I prefer an interactive chemistry class over equations on a blackboard.

Students are being prepared for the future

Businesses and corporations are one of the first to adapt to technological advancements. Therefore, along with other soft skills and good educational backgrounds, they look for technological literacy in the candidates who have applied. Students who are already familiar with technology from their educational experience will have no issue adapting to the futuristic environment of the company they have applied to.

Virtual Trips

Technology has proven helpful to teachers who had to conduct field trips when going in person is not an option. Virtual field trips give students a better insight into the subject. It has enabled the teachers to place students in a virtual environment and give them a similar experience and practical information as if they were there in real life. For Example, A history teacher can use technology to show numerous historical monuments worldwide without visiting them. Thus, the class becomes interactive and visual. As a result, they are increasing students’ engagement and learning. Technology helps eradicate the barriers in the classroom, offering students a new learning environment and connecting them to the world.

Connectivity

Technology has created a new relationship between students, parents, and teachers. Previously students, parents, and teachers were only connected in schools and classrooms. However, now, they are connected not only through virtual classrooms or recorded lectures but also through social media or other networking apps. In this era, nearly everyone can access the internet quickly and has a profile on famous networking and social applications. Therefore, teachers can create professional accounts separate from their personal accounts, allowing them to network with students on these platforms, and share information that engages and benefits them in the subject matter. Thus in this way, they don’t only use the classroom as a medium of delivering learning content but social media as well.

Collaborations

Technology enables students to use tools to increase the collaborations between them. For example, when teachers assign homework tasks that must be done in a group, the students can come upon a virtual group call and solve the task together without heading out. Similarly, they can share documents, pictures, and videos with their classmates through document-sharing apps and cloud services. As mentioned above, engaging with these tools early makes the students prepared to use them in a professional environment.

Comfortability

In this era, children are already introduced to technology from a younger age. They can easily access it in their home. Thus, when they experience it in their classroom, they’ll feel comfortable learning through it. Also, they will be more engaged and will show interest in learning. Therefore, it seems logical to adapt to the learning style the students want and are used to.

Creativity

A student’s creative skills are honed by learning about new technology by experimenting or learning via technological tools. Technology empowers students to be more creative and connected. Their minds constantly rush to try new things, whether learning how to code or experimenting with new ways of learning with accessible technology.

Access to a Variety of Resources

With one click, students can access different resources for the topics they want to learn about. For example, if they are unable to understand the meaning of a word in class, they can search for it and get their answer instantly. Technology has made it easier to find information accurately and quickly, as traditional textbooks are now being replaced with e-books and search engines. Similarly, teachers can access these resources relatively easier to find solutions to problems and instantly increase students’ knowledge in the classroom.

Conclusion

If you are one of the teachers teaching in a school where technology hasn’t been adopted yet, then you can be an advocate for this. Schools and other educational institutes that haven’t adapted to the new form of education are missing a remarkable infinite amount of opportunities. The new era of education is here!