ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION 

Lekshmipriya C.D, lekshmipriyacd55@gmail.com 

ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

 Lekshmipriya C.D 

ABSTRACT 

Educational technology is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning. During the time of Covid-19 pandemic educational technology in India has grown very rapidly. Interactive and innovative learning is one of the attractive features of this field. Students those who are cannot come to the school due to specific reasons can access quality education from their home. Especially competitive exam candidates often juggle works and studies simultaneously. It is also beneficial for the tutors because they can save their energy and effort. Educational technology enables educators to make themselves available to a huge population of students. This article is the study about the role of technology in education, its threats and future.

 

Keywords

Computer hardware, technology, quality education 

INTRODUCTION 

Technology has become as integral part of education. Technology has transformed the way students learn, teachers teach, and administrators manage schools. Technology has enabled students to access a wealth of information, collaborate with peers, and develop critical thinking skills. Technology has also enabled teachers to create engaging and interactive lessons, assess students progress, and communicate with parents. Technology has also enabled administrators to manage school operations very efficiently and effectively. Technology has the potential to revolutionize education and create a more equitable and accessible learning environment for all students. During the Covid-19 pandemic many schools and universities have had to transition to online learning. This has been a difficult transition for many students, teachers and administrators. To make the transition easier, many schools have implemented a variety of strategies to ensure that students are still receiving a quality education. These strategies include; 

1. Utilizing online learning platforms such as Zoom, Google classroom and Blackboard. 

2. Creating virtual classroom with interactive activities and discussions. 

3. Offering online tutoring and support services. 

4. Utilizing video conferencing to hold virtual classes and lectures. 

5. Providing online resources such as textbooks, lectures and other materials. 

6. Encouraging students to take advantage of online learning opportunities.

 7. Utilizing technology to facilitate communication between teachers and students. 

8. Encouraging students to stay connected with their peers and teachers through social media.

 9. Offering flexible scheduling options to accommodate different learning styles. 

10. Utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality to creative immersive learning experiences.

 The success of educational technology is largely dependent on the implementation of technology and the willingness of educators to embrace it. The first step in ensuring the success of educational technology is to ensure that the technology is properly implemented. This means that the technology must be properly configured and that the necessary training is provided to teachers and students. It is also important to ensure that the technology is used in a way that is appropriate for the age and learning level of students. Once technology is properly implemented, it is important to ensure that teachers and students are willing to embrace it. This means that teachers must be willing to use in their learning. If teachers and students are not willing to use the technology, then it will not be successful. Finally, it is important to ensure that the technology is used in a way that is beneficial to both teachers and students. This means that the technology should be used to enhance the learning process, rather than to replace it. It should also be used to provide students with access to resources and information that they may not otherwise have access to (Smith, 2010).

 What is Educational Technology? 

Educational technology, also known as EdTech, refers to use of technology to support teaching and learning. It involves the development, application and evaluation of technological tools and resources to improve the educational process, enhance student learning outcomes, and facilitate effective teaching practices.

 EdTech can include a wide range of technologies, such as computers, mobile devices, educational software, learning management systems, interactive white boards, virtual and augmented reality tools and online educational resources. 

Educational technology has the potential to transform traditional classroom instruction by facilitating personalized learning, providing access to educational resources and content from anywhere, and enabling collaboration and communication among students and teachers. It can also help to address educational challenges, such as improving access to education, increasing student engagement, and enhancing student performance and achievement.

 Different technologies in education 

1.Online learning platforms: Online learning platforms such as blackboard, moodle and canvas are used to facilitate distant learning and provide students with access to course materials, lectures and assessments. 

2.Virtual reality: Virtual reality (VR) is being used to create immersive learning experiences. VR can be used to stimulate real-world scenarios and provide students with a more engaging learning experiences.

3.Augmented Reality: Augmented Reality (AR) is being used to enhance the learning experience by overlaying digital content on to the physical world. AR can be used to provide students with interactive learning experience and to help them visualize complex concepts. 

4.Artifical Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to personalize learning experiences and to provide students with personalized feedback. AI can also be used to automate grading and to provide students with personalized learning paths. 

5. Gamification: Gamification is being used to make learning more engaging and to motivate students to complete tasks. Gamification can be used to create interactive learning experience and to reward students for completing tasks.

 6.Robotics: Robotics is being used to teach students coding and engineering skills. Robotics can also be used to create interactive learning experiences and to help students understands complex concepts.

 7.Digital Textbooks: Digital textbooks are interactive and can include multimedia content such as videos, images, and stimulations, making learning more engaging and interactive. 

8.Multimedia Presentations: Multimedia presentations using like power point, prezi or google slide allow students and educators to work together on projects and assignments in real-time, regardless of their physical location. 

9.Lerning Management System: LMS are software application designed to manage and automate the administration, documentation, tracking and reporting of educational courses, training programs and learning content. 

10.Collaborative Tools: Online collaboration tools such as Google docs, Microsoft teams and slack allow students and educators to work together on projects and assignments in real time, regardless of their physical location (Ossiannilsson, 2023). 

Benefits of Educational Technology 

1.Improved student engagement: Educational technology can help to engage students in the learning process by providing interactive activities and multimedia content. 

2.Increased access to education: Technology can help to provide access to educational opportunities for the students who may not have access to traditional classroom.

 3.Improved student performance: Studies have shown that students who use educational technology in the classroom tend to perform better on tests and assessments than those who do not. 

4.Improved collaboration: Technology can help to facilitate collaboration between students and teachers, as well as between student themselves. 

5.Improved communication: Technology can help to improve communication between students, teachers and parents. 

6.Improved time management: Technology can help to streamline the learning process, allowing students to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently.

 7.Improved access to resources: Technology can provide students with access to a wide range of educational resources, such as online libraries, databases and websites (Jones, 2015). 

How technology helped during the pandemic period 

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the world, and education has been no exception. With the sudden closure of schools and universities, educational institutions have had to quickly adapt to the new reality of remote learning.

 Educational technology has been a key factor in helping to bridge the gap between traditional in-person learning and the new reality of remote learning. Educational technology has enabled students to continue their studies from the safety of heir homes. Through the use of online learning platforms, students can access course materials, lectures and assignments from anywhere with an internet connection. This has allowed students to stay on track with their studies, even when they are unable to attend physical classes.

 Educational technology has also enabled teachers to continue teaching their classes remotely. Through the use of video conferencing tools, teachers can deliver lectures and provide feedback to their students in real time. This has allowed teachers to continue to provide quality instruction to their students, even when they are unable to meet in person.

In addition to providing students and teachers with tools they need to continue their studies, educational technology has also enabled educational institutions to provide additional support to their students. Through the use of online tutoring services, students can receive additional help with their students from the comfort of heir homes. This has been especially beneficial for students who may not have access to in-person tutoring services. 

Finally, educational technology has enabled educational institutions to provide additional resources to their children. Through the use of online libraries, students can access a wide range of educational materials, such as textbooks, articles and videos. This has to be allowed students to continue their studies even when they are unable to access physical libraries. Overall, educational technology has been a key factor in helping educational institutions to continue providing quality instruction to their students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through the use of online learning platforms, video conferencing tools, online tutoring services, and online libraries, educational institutions have been able to continue providing quality instruction to their students, even when they are unable to meet in person. 

Privacy of children while using EdTech 

When using educational technologies, it is important to ensure that the privacy of children is protected. This can be done by implementing measures such as:

 1. Establishing clear policies and procedures for the use of educational technologies, including collection, storage, and use of student data. 

2. Ensuring that any data collected is used only for educational purpose and is not shared with third parties.

 3. Educating students and parents about the importance of protecting their privacy online.

 4. Limiting access to student data to only those who need it for educational purposes. 

5. Encrypting data and using secure networks to protect data from unauthorized access. 

6. Regularly monitoring and auditing the use of educational technologies to ensure that data is being used appropriately (Ossiannilsson, 2023). 

Threats in Educational Technology 

There are many chances for problems while using EdTech. Some of them are: 

1. Data breaches: Data breaches can occur when sensitive information is accessed without authorization. This can include student records, financial information and other confidential data.

 2. Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is a growing problem in educational technology, as students can use technology to harass and intimidate their peers. 

3. Social media: Social media can be used to spread false information, cyberbully, and even recruit students into extremist groups.

 4. Phishing: Phishing is a type of cyber attack where malicious actors send emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source in order to gain access to sensitive information. 

5. Unsecured Wi-Fi: Unsecured Wi-Fi networks can be used to gain access to a system or steal data.

 6. Unauthorized access: Unauthorized access to a system can lead to data theft or manipulation. 

7. Inadequate security: Inadequate security measures can leave systems vulnerable to attack. 

Future of Educational Technology 

The future of educational technology is an exciting prospect. With rapid advances in the technology, the possibilities for educational technology are endless. Educational technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn, allowing us to access information more quickly and efficiently, and to collaborate with others in real time. One of the exciting aspects of EdTech is the potential for virtual reality and augmented reality to be used in the classroom. VR and AR be used to create immersive learning experiences, allowing students to explore and interact with virtual environments. This could be used to reach complex concepts, such as anatomy or physics, in more engaging and interactive way. Additionally, AR and VR could be used to stimulate real world scenarios, such as medical emergency or a natural disaster, allowing students to practice their skills in a safe and controlled environment.

 Conclusion 

In conclusion, educational technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn and teach. It can provide students with more interactive and engaging learning experiences, and it can help teachers to better assess student progress and tailor instruction to meet individual needs. With right implementation, educational technology can be a powerful tool for improving student outcome. It transformed traditional classes to the interactive and engaging spaces. With advancement of technology educational resources are now available online, making learning accessible to individuals from all backgrounds and locations. However, it is important to remember that technology is a tool, and its effectiveness depends on how it is used. By leveraging the power of educational technology, we can create a more inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic learning environment that prepares students for success in 21st century.

 References

 

Smith, John. (2010). The History of Technology. Oxford University Press. 

Jones, Mary. (2015). Journal of Educational Technology. The Effects of Technology on Education,       15(2), 25- 40.

Ossian Nilsson et al. (2023). Transformation of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education towards 

Open Learning Arenas; A Question of Quality. Open Educational Practices, 5(9), 161-167. 

https://about.jstor.org/terms.

Wikipedia, https://simple.m.wikipedia.org>wiki.

 https://edcircuit.com/educational-technologies-edtech.