How Technology Makes Life Easier for Students: an Overview

In today’s world, technology plays a vital part in our daily lives. Technology, since its invention, has been part of our lives weather we are at home, at our workspace, travelling etc. The question arises, why we use technology and as a matter of fact what is technology? Do technology makes life easier for students? To start the essay, just to simply, technology can be defined as a body of knowledge devoted to creating programs, tools, processes that help humans to simply their daily lives. Us as humans, use technology to extend our imaginations and our abilities to innovate and invent. It is an application of science that we use to solve our problems and create new ideas and processes to develop programs and products that bring about productivity, efficiency and most importantly ease in our lives.

Similarly, use of technology in classrooms can bring a drastic change the way teachers teach and also how the students learn. For years, there have been debates on the benefits of integrating technology in education against its risks and consequences. But as more and more schools and colleges are incorporating the use of technology in their education systems, the debate is getting more serious as teachers and professors experiment more with new teaching methods.

Types of Technology in a Classroom

Effective integration and use of technology in school, university classrooms, can shape the course of teaching and as well shape the course of learning for students in classrooms. Effectiveness can increase using different technological tools and each tool can shape the learning and teaching capabilities differently. Kids these days are grown up using technology. It is one of the basic skills one needs to excel in a class. Types of technology in a classroom can vary. From computers to tablets to interactive screens, all eventually are implied to help students with their learning lessons.

Computers

Computers are one of the basic tools one will see in a classroom. They may range from normal desktops to portable laptops. Often teachers may use it to present lectures while there may be a separate computer lab for students to use it for research purposes. It can be hooked up to an external display such as a projector to show a presentation during a class, videos or any educational content. Students can use school computers to view school’s online content or any educational websites.

Tablets

Tablets are a good source of educational systems that students can use to access their school work, homework etc. Tablets usually have applications that has educational content. Individual students can access those applications on their tablets and access the educational content provided by their teachers. Tablets are useful because they provide the same content as computers and are portable.

Smartboards

Smartboards are sophisticated versions of whiteboards and have recently overturned traditional projectors. Smartboards use innovative interactive technology where hand gestures or touch screens can be used to surf through educational materials. It enhances learning by making class more fun with its hands-on functionality. Smartboards are good and also cost less as it is also import for schools to save as much as possible where technology is considered important. Smartboards eliminate the traditional use of whiteboards so there is no need for spending money on markers, pens, chalk etc.

How Technology Makes Life Easier for Students

Technology allows more innovative and fun learning. It increases engagement through quizzes online where students can ask questions, participate in discussions with each other. It makes work easier for the institution, professors/teachers and the students as well. At any given time, students have the access to online portals and discussions where they can take assistance from their respective course professors. With the use of emails for instance, the professor and the student can stay connected at any given time of the day and answer any questions. Educational technology can be very useful to professors as well. Digital tools and online portals can help teachers engage their students to participate all the time. They can mark their attendance, check their statuses and provide feedback on their work. For instance, multiple choice questions online provide points from teachers and in return teachers can analyze which student is doing better and which one needs more help.

These days, every text book has an e-book version ready to be downloaded and used. In most cases, if the student does not want to pay the full price of the e-book, he also has the option of just renting it for a period of time for a lesser price.

Teachers can upload educational content on the online portals where students can directly access them using their school ids. Students can learn based on their personal abilities and needs teachers can have time to work individually with students with their work.

Technology has made learning even more user friendly. Students can now also download the applications provided by their institutions on their smart phones and access their educational material. Instant messaging within the app allows students to stay connected with the professors and teachers at all times. Some popular learning management systems such as Moodle or Canvas, hold new and rich educational content that helps both the teacher and the students collaborate. Through thus ongoing cycle of learning, understanding of concepts is improved.

It is necessary to integrate technology into the learning curriculum as it provides students with essential tools to move ahead and stay competitive with the changing technologies.

Effectiveness of the Use of Technology in Education

Technology is eventually a fantastic tool in the classroom. Teachers are made sure to make use of it. Students are made sure to interact using various applications and programs. We, as a civilization becoming more and more advanced, and our understating regarding new technologies are enhancing as well. For that it is essential to keep up with the changing and growing educational capabilities as well. Internet is shaping our library of data on a daily basis and so it is helping us shape our education as well.

Research in hundreds of studies have proven that multimedia learning greatly increases students learning capabilities. Through multimedia learning, content gets into their memory through visual and auditory information.

Kids with disability are benefited the most. Some might be visually impaired, for them they can have their educational material delivered to them to their doors using LMS. It has provided great boost to learning for students with any form of disability.

However, we always must remind ourselves that any form of learning technology must be guided. Technology is rapidly changing the educational environment and it may sometimes be challenging for students to adapt. Sometimes learning might be hard and can a student can get frustrated. But with good collaboration between the teacher and the students, educational technology can provide immense benefits.

With effective use of LMS, the students can be provided with excellent educational content. Techers can pass on their knowledge to the students, diversify learning create a better communication bridge between them. For instance, using an LMS such as canvas, a teacher can organize eLearning material for all of his students in one location and easily track his student’s performance.

Conclusion

Now since the learning material through technology becomes engaging. Students tend to get more interested and learn more. Multiple forms of learning can me combined using simulations, mobile learning which enhances student engagement and work activity. Nevertheless, even though effective use of technology in classrooms is gaining popularity, it still needs direct supervision and control to protect users from misusing it. Students can easily be distracted which can further affect their grades and class participation. Educational technology is a simple catalyst for exchanging lessons between a teacher and a learner and its effects cannot be overlooked.    

References

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4. Collins, W. A., & Laursen, B. (2004). Parent-adolescent relationships and influences. Handbook of Adolescent Psychology, 2, 331-361.

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5. Connolly, J., Craig, W., Goldberg, A., & Pepler, D. (2004). Mixed-gender groups, dating, and romantic relationships in early adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14(2), 185-207.