Posted: May 29th, 2022

The Impact of Technology on Education

The Impact of Technology on Education

Introduction
Technology is having huge impact on different aspects of our lives and education has been no exception. Today there has been a significant change to how schooling takes place as learning is now being taught and presented to students in a more advanced and effective manner compared to the era before technology was introduced to education. For example, Reed and Berque (2010) argue that technology has transformed how educational materials are taught in class and how students receive it. While traditionally, students would spend a lot of time going through an Encyclopedia trying to search for the meaning of certain keywords; today it only requires a quick search on a computer database or internet which takes a very short time, thus enhancing efficiency into the learning process (Reed & Berque, 2010). Moreover, students are now able to access their teachers and assignments much faster than ever before with an internet connection. As such, technology has been a huge factor in changing the way modern education is carried out. Based on this understanding, technology has played a huge role in improving modern learning process and schooling in general, a factor that has made modern education more successful than before. As such, this paper aims to discuss the impact of technology on education and how it has transformed modern schooling.
Historical Background on the Use of Technology in Learning
The main role of utilizing technology in education is to enhance and improve the learning process. Computers and other related technologies have been fruitful in helping learners study more viably and effectively. After checking on several research findings, instructive technologist Richard Clark reasoned that there is no taking in advantages to be picked up from utilizing a particular medium to convey guidance, and Clark adds that the media doesn’t impact learning under any circumstances (Reed & Berque, 2010). Instead, it acts as a negligible vehicle that carries supervision. Clark adds that any positive outcomes that are picked up by test bunch over the benchmark groups were handily represented by contrasts in the instructional procedure. However, his discoveries are questionable and have been contested by other respectable researchers (Reed & Berque, 2010). Nonetheless, Clark’s sentiments are valuable in explaining the role of modern technology in learning.
The connection between technology and education is additionally muddled by contradictions over what establishes a learning process. During the beginning part of the twentieth century, different theories and speculations were common among traditional classroom educators. For instance, as indicated by these speculations, the instructor’s chief assignment was to move the educator’s information and course book substance to their student’s brains through occasional assessments and make decision in regards to whether this exchange happened (Reed & Berque, 2010). The assignment of technology in this case was to aid that move procedure through compelling and accurate content presentation.
Even though the scholarly foundations of behaviorism can be followed to the start of the twentieth century, behaviorism didn’t have a lot of effect on training until the 1960s (Ghaznavi, 2018). Drawing upon B. F. Skinner’s ideas, teachers advancing behaviorism underlined the significance of giving away from what students ought to have the option to do adhering to guidance (Ghaznavi, 2018). These instructors likewise looked to break sophisticated units of information and abilities into smaller and more straightforward bits, sequencing them in a manner that would allow for the mastery of complex contents and skills. In most cases, the objective was to individualize the instructions given to learners, however much as could reasonably be expected (Ghaznavi, 2018). In this manner, the focal point of leadership moved from the introduction of substance information to learners to emphasizing on the conduct of individual students especially in situations where they did incredibly well.
The twentieth century saw the emergence of different learning cognitive theories and dominated over most analysts understanding of behaviorism among learners. A portion of the perspectives on intellectual therapists spoke to by the term constructivism, started to impact education. The constructivists contended that students must build their comprehension of whatever they are being educated about (Reed & Berque, 2010). Based on this viewpoint, an educator’s work isn’t principally one of advancing information and knowledge transfer or guaranteeing that learners perform reliably based on a predetermined portrayal of information and skills. Instead, Reed and Berque (2010) argue that an educator’s primary job is to come up with a situation where learners can understand knowledge in their own unique way while also getting more skillful when coordinating their learning.
At first, many constructivists doubted and criticized the utilization of computers and other related technologies in schools mainly because they compared it to learning behaviorist hypothesis. Reed and Berque (2010) argue that different constructivists perceived computers as potential partners and planned projects that exploited the constructivist convictions. The outcome has been the establishment of computer based projects that advance a more significant level of reasoning while supporting community teaching (Reed & Berque, 2010).
The Application of Technologies in Schools
Whatever learning hypothesis an educator may grasp, technology in schools exists to promote learning and help students understand instruction. While educators differ in how they utilize various technologies, educators select the media that they most believe would be effective in helping advance their instructional objectives. This section discusses the various examples where technology is being used to promote education and learning at school.
Today technology is heavily being applied in student research. Learners once depended upon nearby and school libraries and their printed reference materials to explore different subjects. However, modern technological advances have given students access to digital forms of these references and libraries around the world. For instance, reference books on CD-ROMs give data, advanced pictures, video, and sound, and give sites where learners get access to instruments, such as live web cameras and worldwide-situating satellites (Reed & Berque, 2010). Thesauruses and dictionaries are now incorporated with word processors on most computers. Through the Internet, learners are now able to access a wide assortment of essential and optional sources, including government archives, photos, and journals. These applications clearly demonstrate the significant role that modern technology is playing in the education sector.
Another application of modern technology in education is with student inquiry. Instructive reformers accept training should be genuine and credible for learners. Innovation can draw in learners in certifiable exercises. In technical studies, automated tests permit science students to gather exact climate or concoction response information and carefully follow patterns and answer different questions (Reed & Berque, 2010). Diagramming number crunchers, spreadsheets, and charting programming give science learners the capacity to picture troublesome numerical ideas (Reed & Berque, 2010). In the sociologies, specialized electronic instruments permit learners to speak with their friends from numerous pieces of the world. In the language expressions, learners utilize handheld PCs and remote systems to make joint composing activities and read electronic books that permit them to investigate related subjects (Reed & Berque, 2010). Idea mapping programming gives all learners the chance to assemble the system for a story or report and to outline linkages among complex characters, such as those in a play by Shakespeare (Reed & Berque, 2010). In expressions of the human experience, learners can investigate pictures of unique work of art through the Internet; with fitting programming, they can make exceptional computerized craftsmanship or melodic structures (Reed & Berque, 2010). Physical training learners can utilize automated tests to find out about the connection between physical development and physiological changes (Reed & Berque, 2010). These applications highlight why modern technology has a crucial role to play in the education sector.
The original learners request stretches out past information assortment. Correspondences innovation permits learners to contact specialists, for example, researchers, book writers, and political pioneers. Learners who need to become familiar with a recent development, for example, a test on a global space station, logical undertakings in the Antarctic, a worldwide gathering of earthy people, or a musher during the Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska, can utilize the Internet to research the theme, take part in a virtual field outing to the occasion, and watch the situation as it develops through a web camera (Reed & Berque, 2010). This way, instructional innovation helps learners who wish to examine their inquiries and concerns. This application clearly demonstrates that modern technology provides convenience to learning.
Wang (2013) accepts the penultimate utilization of innovation happens when learners use innovation to move from being information purchasers to being information makers. Consequences of unique learner’s requests, for the most part, appear as printed reports or oral introductions. With trend-setting innovations, learners can introduce their individual information or recently deciphered information by coordinating digital video, sound, and text into word-prepared reports, sight and sound introductions, recordings, or online archives (Wang, 2013). Nearby, state, national, and universal media fairs give chances to learners to exhibit the new acquired information whenever given the opportunity. Media fairs feature photos, unique advanced pictures, overheads, recordings, and natural sight and sound tasks from learners all things considered (Wang, 2013). Every one of these activities shows learners produced information that could have been demonstrated through a customary paper or examination report. In any case, the instructional innovation devices gave learners an approach to communicate their insight in a more fascinating way
Finally, technology equips students with access to learning resources. A few schools do not have the assets to give all the courses that learners may need. Unavoidable situations and unknown dialect courses can be exceptionally costly for an educational system to offer when there is anything but a significant level of learner’s requests (Reed & Berque, 2010). However, technological advances have given learners the chance to partake in a class situated in an alternate school, town, and even in a different states or nation. Educational innovations can likewise serve the instructional needs of learners who might not be able to go to classes in the school building (Reed & Berque, 2010). Learners who are homebound, self-taught, or who might be compelled to drop out of school can exploit course-work offered over the Internet. Virtual secondary schools, online school credit courses, and revenue-driven organizations all make classes accessible to learners through the Internet (Reed & Berque, 2010). Through an online program, learners can acquire secondary school certificates without going to a specific school.
Modern educational technology also gives learners significant access to customary study hall guidance. Learners who have physical or learning inabilities can utilize an assortment of assistive improvements for them to be actively involved or engaged in a normal mainstream class (Bates, 2005). Additionally, Bates (2005) argues that screen readers and Braille writers ensure that learners with sight constraints can use their computers for leaning and performing other types of work. Moreover, different switches permit learners with constrained versatility to use their computers to complete assignments as well as perform other tasks. Handheld gadgets and specific programming tools permit learners with learning inabilities to work in customary study halls by helping them sort out their structure writing, organize their thought process and oversee time (Bates, 2005). Additionally, Bates (2005) argues that technology also provides disabled students with alternative assessment methods where digital portfolios are used to electronically capture achievement made by students who are unable to complete their traditional assessments. These applications clearly demonstrate that modern technology has transformed how learning is carried out today.
The Impact of Technology on Modern Schooling
Through various digital models and simulations, modern technology has allowed educators to achieve better and more effective communication which promotes better understanding of various concepts. Computerized reenactments and models can help educators clarify troublesome ideas and can help learners who are visual or material students better comprehend the concepts (Kalatskaya, 2019). Poor communication between educators and learners can prevent effective learning and understanding of various concepts from taking place. However, Kalatskaya (2019) adds that with modern technology in place, educators are now able to give their students progressive assignments where these students have a chance to make inquiries on the areas they didn’t understand clearly. As such, modern technology has allowed educators to realize better and more effective communication which promotes better understanding of various concepts
Distributed storage and savvy web indexes have made advanced research and quick information search significantly less tasking for learners these days. Gone are the days when they expected to flip through loads of books to find a particular reference. Since a large proportion of time is saved during exploration, and since it is simpler to get to a more extensive cluster of sources, learners can merge a considerable amount of data and information in their ventures (Kalatskaya, 2019). This leads to results being thought about more productively, considering quicker advancement in cutting edge research. As such, technology is impacting the education system positively by enhancing the research process because both students and educators can gain access to various resource materials much faster.
The use of digital learning material such as eBooks helps learners save up on cash that would have been used to purchase the more expensive textbooks, which can also be very bulky sometimes. Since most learners have a tablet and other similar gadgets, advanced course material and textbooks are advantageous because these can be accessed through these devices (Kalatskaya, 2019). Digital books are consistently procured at a lower price in comparison to regular text books, a factor that makes them progressively moderate for learners. For those that work the entire day and attend class physically, Kalatskaya (2019) adds that online learning has been a transformation game plan. This technological approach to education has ensured that modern learning is more available and easier to access.
Finally technology has made education more fun and enjoyable compared to the traditional learning methods. Learners are getting occupied with a different exhibit of learning undertakings that improve their maintenance of new ideas. For instance, there is an incredible broadness of instruction applications that permit learners to learn different designs in a lively, intuitive way (Ghaznavi, 2018). Learners that may fail to comprehend a specific subject can look for an instructional exercise video on the web. Additionally, Ghaznavi (2018) argues that recordings of live lessons offer a better way to clearly comprehend an idea or subject. These recordings can permit an intriguing and intuitive way to deal with discovering that maybe effectively processed and retained by learners. As such, technology has made education more enjoyable which motivates students to be more interested with their education.
Conclusion
From the foregoing, technology has had a significant change on how schooling takes place because learning is now being taught and presented to students in a more advanced and effective manner compared to the era before technology was introduced to education. For example, technology has transformed how educational materials are taught in class and how students receive it. While traditionally, students would spend a lot of time going through an Encyclopedia trying to search for the meaning of certain keywords; today it only requires a quick search on a computer database or internet which takes a very short time, thus enhancing efficiency into the learning process. As such, we can conclude that the future schooling and education will heavily rely on the existing and emerging technologies.

References
Bates, T. (2005). The impact of technology on the organization of distance education. Technology, E-learning and Distance Education, 17-40. doi:10.4324/9780203463772_chapter_2
Ghaznavi. (2018). The impact of information technology on the quality of education and learning process. doi:10.31918/itec.2018
Kalatskaya, N. (2019). Does educational technology impact a child? V International Forum on Teacher Education. doi:10.3897/ap.1.e0959
Reed, R. H., & Berque, D. A. (2010). The impact of tablet PCs and pen-based technology on education: Going mainstream, 2010. Purdue University Press.
Wang, C. (2013). Impact of technology on program and institutional assessment in higher education. Proceedings of the 2013 Conference on Education Technology and Management Science. doi:10.2991/icetms.2013.35

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