Will the advances in computer technology in the delivery of education create more efficient classrooms and improve learning?
Introduction
Even though there have been countless arguments about the implementation of technology in the classroom, the advances in computer technology in the delivery of education has opened up many doors in how students learn and have been a key source in improving teacher resources. Through computer technology many students are allowed access to endless educational resources including, virtual online learning which allows students to do online education on a part time or full time bases, blended learning which allows students free range to learn online at their own pace from the comforts of their own home or in any location but also allows students to learn in a away from home location in a brick & mortar classroom setting. Technology allows student open access to educational resources including podcast, digital libraries, online databases and much more.
The Internet's effect on learning
Since the 1990s the internet has been improving and changing the way people do things. The advancement of computer technology and how its used for learning have improved drastically. The internet is an open resource to so many different resources and information, with the internet we no longer have to worry about learning strictly in the classroom. The internet opens the opportunity to learn what you want when you want. Through social media such as Youtube and other websites you can teach yourself almost anything, from the basics of changing a tire to computer programing. This is why many people argue that in the near future the advancement in computer technology will begin to replace teachers.
Benefits of Online Learning
Online learning comes in many different levels, starting from k-12 all the way up to receiving your doctorate degree. Online learning is very beneficial, it allows freedom to learn at your own pace. learning can be done at home off of multiple mobile devices such as an ipad, tablet, or a laptop, learning can take place almost anywhere. Save time from having to sit and dedicate time to sit and learn, when that time could be spent on other productive activities. Many people who take advantage of online learning live very busy lifestyles may it be from working, parenting or just being uncomfortable in the classroom. Online learning is a convenient way for people with these types of lifestyles to only focus on learning and at a pace that is good for them and their lifestyle.
Blended Learning
One type of learning that's becoming more popular from the advancement and the expansion of computer technology in education is blended learning. Unlike regular online learning other than just the use of digital tools from the teacher’s perspective it gives the students the ability to pause, go back, or skip forward if they feel like they need a challenge or have mastered a certain part of the curriculum. Blended learning also allows students to work in a regular Brick and Mortar style class room in addition to online work, this is important to the blended learning style it allows students to work online and the teacher to monitor the students progress. Most of the learning through blended learning education is created to benefit what would help the student individually. Blended learning is made up of three main components, In-person classroom activities facilitated by a trained educator who monitors more like an in person facilitator rather than a teacher. The second component is through online learning materials, which include pre-recorded lectures given by that same instructor. Lastly is the structured independent study time guided by the material in the lectures and skills developed during the in class sessions which allows the student to go over lectures and teach themselves at home and bring back the knowledge they obtained through their independent study at home to do their homework while in the classroom setting.
Education technology and the future
In multiple articles i’ve read educators have said that they believe that using more technology in their classrooms would improve the learning for the students and also help them do certain task that have in the past been very tedious and tiresome for teachers, another common problem that comes with bringing more technology in classrooms is that teachers are not as skilled in technology making it hard to incorporate it in the classroom. In an article from edsurge.com a statistic shows that only 58% of teachers are comfortable using technology in class. An online learning source called Espark learning built in a new platform to help improve how teachers use technology in the classroom to help 21st century student efficiently learn while using technology. One new thing being implemented in 21st century learning is the implementation on coding and computer programing, because so the future is of technology is constantly changing and the word is becoming more technology based the basic skill of coding can be used to create things such as apps, websites and computer software, in an article from opencolleges.edu.au a statistic shows that 40% of American schools are now including coding courses. In other countries coding classes are mandatory for students. In the article from .opencolleges.edu.au it states that in the United Kingdom since about 2014 kids ages 5 and up started learning the basic fundamentals of coding. From learning how to code kids are learning how machines are taught to perform the functions that they do, which will be beneficial in the future because as time goes on more basic jobs that once belonged to humans are now being replaced by robots. From teach children at a young age to code you are setting them up early for careers in the future but coding is also a perfect hands on way to learn problem solving skills. Cody Swann, CEO of the software development company Gunner Technology, believes teaching kids and adults how to code is one of the best ways to teach logic and persistence a direct quote from him in his article with opencolleges.edu.au he says “Our connected society tries to push the notion that feelings are paramount, and everyone’s opinion should be respected, Combine that with the powerful Internet-created echo chambers, and we have an environment where beliefs aren’t challenged anymore regardless of how nonsensical they may be. The lack of persistence is easier to explain. It’s the entitlement culture. Persistence means you have to keep trying and power through failure. But many people these days do just about anything to avoid failure – even if it means not trying in the first place. So how can teaching coding help teach students these skills? Coding is emotionless. The foundation of coding is right and wrong. There is no room for beliefs the foundation of coding is manipulating equations with free variables, which, not coincidentally, is the definition of algebraic logic.”
New technologies like AI, machine learning, and educational software aren't just changing the field for students, they're also changing the roles of educators, creating a major shifts in how they approach teaching, and remodeling the classroom. Traditional education methods are bound to change as everything keeps improving. With that being said, technology is making education completely personalized. The personalization will be with the teachers, parents and students. A new trend that are happening right now in education would be certain grades assigning students and instructors their own personal IPad and tablets. This allows the students to do their assignments on mobile devices instead of carrying loads of paperwork home. Everything is becoming more digital. The digital age decreases the risk of lost assignments and it’s easier to take account of who did what.
As students learn differently, the use of technology allows educators to put uniqueness into the student’s educational experience. Younger generations are becoming more tech savvy and educated with the use of technology. One system that’s used widely across the U.S. is a program named DreamBox. This is a math software which adapts to each student individually and their skills. DreamBox teaches each student at a different pace which is best suited for that specific student learning needs. With adapted learning software, such as DreamBox, there will eventually not be a need for textbooks in the school system. Personally I think it makes learning more exciting for the students as they matriculate through their educational experience. You are combining the dreadful day of learning with the excitement of technology for students. In reality, they are getting the best of both worlds.
Teacher’s role with Technology
Many argue that technology will diminish the roles of educators in the future. That’s where you are wrong. Technology actually increases the impact of educators in the school system. Educators have to deal with countless amounts of students on a day to day bases, making it much easier for students to get left behind. It’s a hard stressful task to keep up with twenty students and where they lack and which method is best for their learning styles because not one student learns the same. Technology produces more data to track each classroom’s progress. This progress will show the educator how and where each student is struggling, along with how and where each student is thriving. The educators take that and are now able to focus on the areas students are in need of the most help. But for technology to work in the classroom, it also has to work with the educators and their needs. So it’s just a method to aid instead of coming in a replacing educators. This aid keep stress levels down on the educators and make things much more simple and convenient.
Student Responsibility
With educators better equipped at understanding a student's learning process, classrooms are being formed around small groups, with students who match each other's skill level working together. These tailor made groups provides students with the independence inside of classrooms. This independence make the student take the initiative and ownership of their own work inside of a classroom setting. As stated by Greenberg, “Creating agency in the classroom improves student’s motivations. Students get excited about learning when they are able to do it the way they want too. If it’s catered to them then they won’t have a problem learning and completing assignments as they go. With adaptive technology assisting individuals at every skill level, students are better equipped to learn on their own. Sitting on a tablet is much more intriguing to a student rather than listening to a grown up lecture to them all day. It’s easy to tone someone out during a lecture and no longer be motivated on the subject at hand.
Smart Classroom Technologies
A smart classroom is an artificial intelligent room which can automatically reconfigure itself and its resources based on the profiles of user groups. It can be achieved through a pre-defined schedule based on the arrival of a specific class group or lecture. It can react automatically on the arrival of the staff or students. Tedious task can be automated at the start of a lecture that allows the teacher and the students to focus on the learning process. Simple tasks include list of attendees with their photographs which can make enhancements in the interaction of lecturer and student which is particularly for larger learning groups. Learning styles of students are changed with the environment in which they are in. The traditional lecturing style needs to be reviewed in order to ensure its suitability to meet the needs and learning styles of the students. There are other techniques which are used that are problem based learning and peer instruction which provides an additional burden on the educators during lessons.
Benefits of Technology in Education
Educational technology is aimed to improve the education over what it would be without technology. Some of the benefits of the use of technology in the education field are easy to access course material, student motivation, wide participation, improved student writing, subjects are easier to learn and differentiated instruction. Instructors can post the course material or any other important information on the course websites such as blackboard which is helpful for the student as they study on their own time, or at a location they prefer and can obtain their study material very quickly. Computer-based instructions can be helpful in giving instant feedback to the students and can also explain correct answer. In addition, a computer is considered a patient and non-judgmental device which can motivate students to continue learning. Learning material is very helpful in long distance learning and also accessible to a wider audience. The technology in education also provides a means to focus on active student participation and also to present different strategies of questioning. Online learning promotes plans of personalized learning and broadens individualized instructions. Internet itself has unlocked a world of opportunities for students. But like with anything with every positive aspect, there is always a negative side to it as well. It is said that technology inhibits creativity, attention for more productive activities, and lack of human involvement.
Today, more than ever, the role of educational technology in teaching is of great importance because of the use of information and communication technologies. With the help of various applications for distance education, the Internet, teachers, and students themselves, they see the advantage of educational technology. The question is whether schools and teachers themselves are ready for the use of technology in education and whether they are aware of its benefits? Technology has always been at the forefront of human education. From the days of carving figures on rock walls to today, when most students are equipped with several portable technological devices at any given time, technology continues to push educational capabilities to new levels. In looking at where educational methods and tools have come from to where they are going in the future, technology’s importance in the classroom is evident now more than ever.