It’s no secret that the current generation has grown more and more dependent on technology. In fact, these days, tech progress has already reached our classrooms. It has been slowly changing education within and outside of school walls. Learners strongly rely on technology for the majority of learning processes.
They receive new knowledge online, practice the received lessons, take classes online and use technology in classrooms supervised by teachers. Overall, it has affected all spheres of education so far. But whether it’s a good change or not is a matter of discussion. Here is a list of the pros and cons of technology in education.
Pros: Engagement
Technology can make everything more exciting. For example, learning a history lesson during a lecture can bore students, causing them to lose focus and attention. It’s nothing personal. This is the way our brain works. It needs stimulation to stay engaged. Well, technology can offer plenty of stimulants. A similar lesson can be taught via watching a documentary, playing learning computer games, or even observing the events firsthand with Virtual Reality or Augmentative Reality.
Learning with technology will make children and young adults more excited about taking those lessons. In general, engagement plays a big role in how students perceive, process, and remember lessons. Thus, the higher the engagement levels are, the more active students are during a class. They listen more carefully, and they observe without getting distracted.
As long as they stay focused, they can easily understand and process the new information, remembering most of it. That’s the power of technology in education these days. It can make students more involved, luring them in with the promise of fun and excitement.
Cons: Distractions
Sure enough, technology can be a little bit too exciting at times. Modern students often struggle with keeping their attention on just one thing when their smartphones offer so many other options for what to do. Students have to fight the urge to check their social media feeds, news, or favorite sites during school hours. However, that’s not it. Students also have a more difficult time concentrating during classes, all due to their dependency on technology.
The internet is full of entertaining content, and people grow too fond of it. As a result, students have a hard time denying themselves access to the fun side of the Internet. Also, favoring studying becomes more and more of a challenge, considering how fast things change online and how slow things move in a classroom.
Pros: Spontaneous learning
The modern tech era has taught the younger generations little patience. Instead, they want instant results. If they want to learn something, they can do so in a few seconds. The information is no longer hidden somewhere far in libraries. It’s out there in the open for anyone to find and learn. Indeed, now kids can receive answers to any of their questions with a simple gadget and a few minutes of free time.
On the one hand, such access to unlimited information online encourages spontaneous learning. Students can find any data they need within seconds. But, on the other hand, teachers now have a harder time gaining children’s attention and even respect. They’ve stopped being the only keepers of valuable knowledge, somewhat losing their role as educators.
Cons: Interferes with creativity
Most students spend all their free time on their gadgets. Such dependence is already disturbing. For example, the lack of free-from-technology time leads to a lack of creativity. Most creative thoughts are born out of boredom, which they rarely feel now. Also, technology gives young people instant results without forcing them to think, reflect and use their imagination.
Once any issue occurs, the Internet already finds a solution. Sure, on the bright side, students can always count on help online. For example, one can open WritePaperForMe and order essays when one can’t complete such assignments online. Yet, on the other hand, this availability of easy and fast solutions truly interferes with one’s ability to solve issues on their own.
Pros: Diversification
Technology can diversify learning processes, making them more interesting and exciting for students. One thing that kills curiosity and eager minds is boredom—the routine. Young minds can’t maintain their high energy and engagement levels without some changes in the traditional learning approaches. Fortunately, these days, technology can bring more fun and options to studying.
For one, students have an option to take remote online classes instead of going to in-person classes. Such a change helps them adjust studying to their own needs and circumstances. Secondly, students have many options on how and where to receive knowledge.
For example, they can read articles online, listen to their favorite podcasts, watch movies, play games, etc. All these sources of information can diversify the learning processes, making them more engaging and personal. Moreover, students also learn to be more proactive in their studying. Overall, tech progress has come a long way these days.
In the past, children were excited to see a TV in front of a classroom. Such a piece of technology in the room already meant a change in the typical routine. It was exciting to do something new for a change. Well, now, students can enjoy such excitement during each class and while doing homework.
