For the longest time, traditional face-to-face instruction has been an effective way to learn and teach. Up until the CoVid-19 pandemic, which prevented everyone from attending the conventional in-person classes, it had produced observable and satisfying results and wasn’t questioned.
That incident demonstrated that technology could be adequate and produce comparable, if not superior, learning results. It is clear that technology has a variety of effects on education. This guide will provide you with more information about this impact and will address the question, “How does technology impact student learning?”
1. Use of Technology in Modern Education
Technology has permeated every aspect of our lives in the modern era, including the field of education. It is a tool that facilitates the speedy and effective completion of challenging tasks.
But it’s important to remember that while technology can be an aid in education, it can’t resolve issues on its own. The effectiveness of educational technology depends on how teachers use it to best serve their students’ needs.
Digital learning tools used effectively in the classroom can increase student engagement, help teachers develop better lesson plans, and promote personalised learning. It also aids in the growth of critical thinking abilities in students.
Virtual classrooms, augmented reality (AR), videos, various robots, and other technological tools can not only make the class more interesting but they can also develop more inclusive practises that foster intellectual curiosity and cooperation while also enabling teachers to gather data on student performance.
2. Benefits of Technology in Education
In one way or another, we all use technology in our daily lives. It has grown in importance over time, changing how we receive and interpret information in our lives.
Every aspect of our lives has been impacted by technology, but in recent years, the impact on education has been the most obvious. In an effort to keep up with the latest technological developments and better prepare students for the rapidly evolving world of technology, schools are introducing more and more technology into the classroom.
Putting students’ knowledge into action
The ability to put students’ knowledge and skills into practise is one of the biggest advantages of using technology in education. Through online classes, conversations with teachers, and interactions with other students, students gain useful knowledge. However, it is crucial to put these new abilities into practise.
Through a variety of applications, technology enables students to put their newly acquired knowledge into practise. The use of technology in the classroom makes it easier for teachers to give students a variety of tasks and assignments that let them use what they have learned and experienced to solve problems and create solutions to situations.
Sharpening students’ critical thinking
Depending on a number of factors, such as the type of technology used and the context in which it is used, technology will have an effect on students’ critical thinking abilities.
It is a well-known fact that using technology in the classroom can make the learning process and activities more interesting. Technology can appeal to multiple senses and increase students’ interest in the subject matter.
The use of the right technology in the classroom improves student academic performance, self-confidence, classroom motivation, and attendance. Technology helps students make the transition from passively listening and paying attention to more active learning.
Technology also has an impact on critical thinking because it helps students apply what they’ve learned to real-world situations and improve their problem-solving abilities, both of which are crucial aspects of critical thinking.
Increased collaboration
Tech in education can help with collaboration. During lessons, teachers can talk to students, but they can also interact with one another. Through interactive educational games and online classes, students work together to solve problems.
Through group projects, students can encourage one another while exchanging ideas. Technology also makes it possible for students to speak with teachers directly. Students can get more help with the challenging subject matter and ask questions about the classroom environment. Homework can be uploaded by students, and teachers can access and view it on their devices.
Implementing instructional technology has been shown in numerous studies to increase overall student motivation and engagement in learning. Technology specifically engages students cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. Students have more opportunities to interact with instructors, work together with peers, and take part in the learning process whether technology is used in the classroom or after school.
Specific examples of technology that have been shown to enhance student engagement and communication include blogs, wikis, social networking sites, and video games.
Better communication
Students can use technology to communicate with people both inside and outside of their classrooms. Students are prepared for almost any career by learning how to collaborate on projects using digital tools.
Global student collaboration encourages cultural learning and teaches students how to work with others who are different from them. When used wisely, the internet can offer a great sense of community and support even though it occasionally can be an unpleasant place filled with hate.
Students of all ages can benefit from classroom websites. They frequently help students connect with one another and give them a place to work together on group projects. They assist students by giving them a sense of community and belonging.
Websites mimic the experience of joining an online forum or group because they are frequently filled with student work, classroom updates, and assignments. The site offers students the chance to practise creating, editing, and uploading files.
Personalized learning opportunities
With busy schedules and demanding lifestyles, expanding your skill set has become challenging and essential. Here’s where technology can help. Virtual lessons are gradually replacing traditional lectures, making education more accessible than ever.
Students can schedule their learning to fit into their schedules. To broaden their knowledge, they can also pursue topics and programmes outside of their course requirements.
Continuous access to knowledge and information is made possible by technology. Using a laptop or mobile device, students can complete their coursework entirely online. Hybrid learning combines regular in-person classroom sessions with the use of technology from almost anywhere. In both situations, it is feasible to use technology to create individualised learning plans for each student. The interests and skills of the students can be used to create lessons.
The ability for students to learn at their own pace is an additional benefit. When necessary, students can watch the lesson plan videos again to better understand the main ideas. Additionally, teachers can identify which students struggled with specific subjects and provide additional support and help using the data generated by these online activities.
3. The Impact of Technology on Student Learning
Students and teachers have created useful and accessible teaching and learning environments with the aid of technology.
An extremely significant technological impact on education is the rise in class participation and interactivity. The effects of technology on student learning also include improved overall comprehension, practical learning, time management, and a combination of learning methodologies.
Enriching the classroom with technology
It can be difficult to pick the best technology to use in the classroom. However, defining your learning objectives can help you choose the tools that will be most helpful for you.
It’s true that not all schools can afford to provide each student with their own device in the classroom. Digital tools can help with providing each student with individualised guidance in situations where there are many more students than teachers. Personalised digital applications can ensure that the other students are using their devices to work on their specific areas of improvement while teachers meet in private with other students.
Better comprehension
Every student essentially has the world in their hands thanks to technology. Students can easily access all the information and resources they require to better understand various topics and succeed in the process with just a few clicks.
Every student occasionally encounters difficulties with particular topics, but thanks to technology, this is no longer a concern since they can quickly look it up in various search engines or even ask their teachers for further clarification. Thanks to technology, instructors are always reachable via email, making it simpler for students to get in touch with them and receive all the support they need.
Interactivity and class engagement
Students become more engaged and start to take more ownership of their learning when technology is carefully and seamlessly integrated into the classroom.
The dynamics of the classroom are changed by effective technology integration, encouraging student-centered project-based learning. Through chat rooms and other available applications, students can quickly and easily interact with their teachers and fellow students during the learning process without taking up valuable class time.
Exploring complex matters
As was previously mentioned, students will inevitably encounter challenges and different difficulties throughout the learning process. Additionally, they might be asked to research subjects that are difficult and complex for them.
However, the inclusion of technology in the learning process has made it simple for both teachers and students to access all the information and resources that would help them explore and resolve any complex issues they might come across while learning and teaching.
Time-saving: effective learning
It is evident that both educators and students take full advantage of technology. The fact that technology in the classroom saves a lot of time is one of its most important benefits.
To help teachers take attendance without taking up too much of their time, a number of apps are available. Students can sign their names on a tablet as they enter the classroom, even if the teacher is busy getting ready for class.
Additionally, technology can completely solve a wide range of issues. For instance, when students have online access to their assignments, photocopying and stapling are no longer necessary.
Grading is also a breeze thanks to technological platforms that instantly interpret test answers on a large scale. Teachers can view each student’s progress by using the status reports that many apps give them. These reports also point out areas for development, enabling educators to spot learning challenges earlier in the academic year. Technology not only makes grading easier for teachers, but it also enables students to receive the assistance and focus they need.
Combined learning methodologies
Every learning style can be adapted by teachers thanks to technology. Whether lectures, reading, illustrations, or recordings are how students learn best, technology has the capacity to support all of these methods.
With the aid of online videos, audiobooks, interactive games, and other resources, students can learn at their own pace. Furthermore, since online content is frequently updated, teachers and students can always access the most recent information. In order to best meet everyone’s needs, teachers can combine various learning methodologies with technology.
4. Will Technology Prevail Over Traditional Learning?
The educational system has been completely altered by modern technology. Anyone who wishes to learn is now able to do so from anywhere in the world, at any time, and on any subject thanks to the internet-enabled classrooms.
Virtual classrooms can hold any number of students, in contrast to traditional face-to-face classrooms, which have a limited number of seats. And there is an infinite amount of information available for free or at a fair price when it comes to learning.
There is no denying that our society is moving more towards technology. Learning how to use technology, from self-driving cars to digital menus, helps students get ready for the future. Early technology education can benefit students’ professional and personal development. It is therefore very advantageous for students to be up to date with the latest teaching techniques, regardless of whether technology will eventually replace traditional learning.
Final Thoughts
Although education technology is frequently perceived as a threat and does have some drawbacks, integrating it into your teaching methods gives students a new way to more effectively interact and engage with the course material. The four walls of your classroom are no longer the only place where education can take place thanks to the use of technology tools. Social media and the internet don’t have to be a source of diversion. As a teacher, you can incorporate technology into lesson plans after learning how it enhances student learning. This will benefit both you and your students by resulting in better learning outcomes.
