The Importance Of Technology In Education

Technology has many attributes and applications that improve livelihoods. As a student myself, one of the most obvious advancements is in the field of education. Educational technology has slowly been integrated into classrooms over the last decade. Today, the basis of technology, digital literacy, is a crucial skill for academics. “Students who are digitally literate know how to effectively use technology to collaborate, create original content, and conduct in-depth research for academic purposes” (Dotterer, “Fostering Digital Citizenship In The Classroom”). Some worry that the use of technology will encourage people to “cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful” (qtd. In Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”).

Over time, many have questioned the role of technology in education and instructional teaching because technology in education is a developing field that many researchers are yet to venture into. Since its advent, technology has greatly transformed human life because it has widened the focus within which man operates because of making his efforts easier and attainable. Introducing technology in the education sector has been viewed as a move towards progress because it has greatly transformed a sector that was initially viewed as being conservative. Currently, educational institutions are outdoing each other in matters technology because each wants to be considered progressive. Moreover, with the advent of the digital era, it is expected that educational institutions should be on the forefront in the implementation of technology because most of these institutions provide the hubs that act as the research centers. In addition, university professors and other stakeholders are usually at the center of these innovations, and thus a failure of an uptake of technology in these institutions is a mockery of the view that educational centers are technology hubs (Collins & Halverson, 2009). With this in mind, this paper is aimed at exploring education and instructional technology in the future.

In the modern era of education, technology is held in high esteem with educators, students, and parents. The innovative waves of instruction are taking a hold on schools across America. Positive results are being seen. Studies and test scores have proven that progress follows proper implementation of technology in schools. The outdated practices of using textbooks as primary information and sitting behind your desk and lecturing are over. Students must be stimulated in a multitude of ways; however, the most diverse and innovative ways of presenting crucial information is through technology.

April Chamberlain a well known actress said, ”Education is evolving due to the impact of the internet. We cannot teach our students in the same manner in which we were taught. Change is necessary to engage students not in the curriculum we are responsible for teaching, but in school. Period.” In today's society, people can’t imagine their life without technology. Having access to technology in classrooms and being able to use it is beneficial, and will be one of the many skills necessary for future jobs. Technology is beneficial in classrooms because it will prepare students for future careers, it deepens learning by using resources students are interested in, and it provides individual pacing and sequence.

An article posted in Jamaica Gleaner headlined “Technology Can Improve Learning”, (The Gleaner, 2012) explains the importance of technology in the teaching-learning process for students in Jamaica. The article proposed that there would be a significant turnaround in pupils’ performance who are usually considered as the poor performer. Undoubtedly as exists in industrialized countries, technology as a tool to aid in the delivery of education, is an inevitable addition to the process. In a comment in the article The Minister of Education also intimated that the plan of the Ministry of Education was to use information technology to improve pedagogy in the school system. Essentially ICT are great technological devices that can be used in carrying out this task for the present and future generation.

“Abundance of books makes men less studious; it destroys memory and enfeebles the mind by relieving it of too much work.” 15th century Italian humanist Hieronimo Squarciafico said this in 1477 to show his objection to the printing press after its invention. He was worried that the amount of books made readily available by printing presses would hurt people’s minds and memories. Replace the word “books” with “technology” and a current opinion against the use of technology for learning is shown. Nowadays, many people are concerned that using technology for learning purposes is actually making people lazier and less apt to think for themselves, but that is not the case. When used for learning purposes, technology is extremely useful and beneficial for students of all ages and abilities. Educational technology is important because it allows learning to be individualized, motivates and engages students, and leads to improved academic achievement.

Technology advancements has helped in the classroom. Students prefer technology because they believe that it makes learning more interesting and fun, especially with the use of laptops and tablets. Subjects that students deem challenging or more say boring can become more interesting with virtual lessons, like through a video. The world today is most dependent of technology so the use of technology prepares students for the future and sets them up for the increasing digital economy. It’s also a belief to students believe that technology helps them retain information better. Today’s technology enables students to learn at their own pace. Students can learn according to their abilities and needs, this form of teaching is also great for the teacher because it gives the time to work

Many people have faith that technology might be the most powerful factor as each generation after generation passes by. Since the late 1800s, technology has always been the exact refinement for becoming the greatest supremacy in America. It has transformed the features of many’s aspects. In every circumstance, not only has it shown its presence as a benefactor, but it has also had an impact on education that can be proven to be a great source, and has done nothing, but improve the capacity of learning in school. Technology in the classroom is beneficial because it overcomes the limitations, improves the standards of health, and develops the individual’s mind to its greatest knowledge.

Technology is useful to have around like when kids get lost or when parents need them to track their kids. Technology can be useful in other ways, like technology is better for education. Also, keeping touch with family and friends, and for emergencies.

Technology has been around for many years and is still advancing today. Technology is a portion of everyday life. It does not just affect how business is conducted, teaching, learning, and receiving information. Everyone uses technology every day. Even though people are being addicted to it. Technology is still a great benefit to the classroom, it stimulates our digital generation and allows educators to be more creative with the curriculum. Computing devices also provide an entire world of distractions that can greatly outweigh the productive aspects. And because of readily available social media and other electronic entertainment through these devices, students can now find comfort in the distractions of the digital world.

As technology becomes ever ingrained in the field of education it polarizes educators on either side, either with technology being an atrophy to the critical thinking and reading skills of students or the only real way they can learn in a modern classroom. But who is right? Is technology a cancer to modern education, something that needs to be cut out before it spreads? Or is it a cure-all for poor school systems that completely levels the field? It is neither and it is both, technology is a mighty force in building multi-tasking skills and preparing students for their futures in the tech-dominated world. However, overexposure to this fantastical medium also hurts the students just as much, gutting their development of imagination, analyzation skills, and critical thinking. The over-saturation of technology in education has become a detriment to learning, making worse students and teachers, while at the same time harming certain comprehension abilities in students.

Matt Richtel is an American writer and Journalist for The New York Times. Richtel is most known for his series that he wrote about distracted driving, which he was awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. In an article he wrote, Richtel explains about the learning curves that technology has brought to the classrooms. The article mainly focuses on how the movement of technology has changed and how it has made for a challenge among teaching students. As a parent, I find myself concerned about long term effects this may have on my child’s generation with the ability of learning and understanding.

Education is also another field in which technology has expanded. It has opened up thousands of resources for students to access while at school and even at home. “In the past, teachers relied on actual meetings to interact with their students. It was only during physical meetings that teachers could deliver learning materials and instructions to learners. However, nowadays, this kind of absolute dependence on physical meetings is gone.  It is easy for teachers and learners to stay in touch via email and other internet-based services such as file-sharing and Instant Messaging applications.” (Raza, 2017)

As technology continues to advance and take new heights in so many ways, we can think of many ways that this is helpful and how it makes our job easier. Technology within the school systems are starting to become the thing of the very near future. With many schools implementing "bring your device to school" days. You have to start to think how will this start to tie into the children's lives and how will this benefit them in the long run. According to Leys (n.d.), Technology has some great benefits to help our students further their education, it is also used in harmful ways that have no benefits on learning. All of the technology and gadgets are great, think of the problems and/or barriers that are brought forth. There are learning processes in each. What has to be looked at from a parenting stand point, is how do our children continue to implement better writing skills with new technology? With our children being more into technology, and being taught with technology, we must see the decline in the writing skills of our children and how dependent they will become when leaving the education realm and transitioning into the real world. Expecting technology to do more for them than ever before. Examination has to be taken into consideration on how are our teachers that teach our kids going to be supported, and the financial realm of resources that need to be given to give the correct support.

The world we live in today is surrounded by new and innovative technology there are new phones and computers coming out every day. Kids are exposed to technology early on and it tends to become an integral part of their lives. From daily activities to educational programs and so you can find technologies everywhere computers, internet, TVs, and other technological components at any school, household or even electronic playground. Technology is amazing and has made everyday life much easier, but "the disruptive nature of technology" takes a turn when it comes to children. However, some people believe that technology is a good approach when it involves education and that it is a faster more effective way to impact their future educational performance. Some people even believe it is an essential need to know how to work technology. Consequently it takes a dark turn on developing kids "Dr. Aric Sigma, a leading psychologist, said "The problem with this generation is that we accept there should be limits on the consumption of many things, such as sunlight, or sugar and salt, but screen time is not something that is thought of as consumption. It's important to impose boundaries, rules, and limits."" In 2016 important leaders from political leaders to businessmen go for "annual meeting to discuss the world's big issue", and in 2016 the most overreaching issue was technology and how it impacts the world. This is an issue that should be acknowledged and addressed regularly by especially adults because they are the one raising the future generation. And "while technology can be an incredible thing, it is obviously important to maintain a balance between the cyber world and real world" and should be regulated by not only at home but at schools and libraries too.