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.
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