It is noted that technology plays a significant role in spheres of life and the field of education is not an exception. Freeman Dyson said, “Technology is a gift from God… it is the mother of civilization, of art and of science” (Koschmann et al, 1994). Technology in education is associated with a number of advantages which include saving time, automating operation, increasing accuracy and precision among others.
Technology has ensured that instructors and teachers are in a better position to disseminate knowledge and at the same time help learners to understand fully and grasp knowledge. This is because technology has acted as medium of communication between instructors and students as well as adds a fun-element to learning.
Additionally technology is thought to have increased the level of interaction between the relevant stakeholders. Both audio and visual media for instance, PowerPoint and associated animations are utilized to provide learners with information in an interactive way. The major driving force for using this kind of technology is that it helps elicit interest from learners.
Additionally, PowerPoint and animations act as visual aid to instructors and lecturers. On the same note, the uses of projectors and screens have made it possible for instructors to reach a large number of students. The result of this arrangement is that, there have been tremendous improvement in learners’ attendance and attentiveness hence improved academic achievement and performance.
According to Coley, Cradler & Engel, 1997 technology advancement brought internet development. The advantage of the same is linked to information accessibility and search. Through Google and other search engines, students are able to acquire knowledge from the internet.
This is used to augment what they have been taught in class. Considering the fact that the searches are prompt, learners can get desired information within a second which they can use to enhance their knowledge and skills. Technology is also thought of enhancing the advancement of online education, blended learning and distance learning.
In particular, online and distance learning have made institutions of higher learning to admit students not based on the bed capacity. Additionally, students from overseas have been able to enroll and get degree certificates from recognized Universities without traveling and being present in classrooms physically.
A platform to share notes, assignments submission and discuss among students and their instructors contributed significantly to development of distance learning (O’Dwyer et al., 2005).
More importantly through technology the school board can engage in serious discussions with other stakeholders such as the government, Non Governmental Organizations among others through video conferencing. This saved schools millions of dollars that could have been used for accommodation, transport among other expenses.
On the same note, some activities in education sectors have been automated hence saving time and manpower. It would be rational to bring to light some disadvantages of technology in education and challenges facing its adoption. It is worth noting that it tends to deny some individuals job opportunities due to its ability to automate certain activities.
Additionally, the initial efforts to adopt it are very expensive. It is also dependant on other infrastructure such as electricity and this really put schools in rural areas particularly in third world countries at a disadvantage when it comes to adopting or using technology in education (Casey, 1997).
In conclusion, it is with no doubt that technology has made learning as well as sharing of knowledge be an interactive as well as enjoyable activity. Experts in the field of education have acknowledged that technology is another gift from God to human beings.
References
Casey, J. (1997). Early literacy: The empowerment of technology. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.
Coley, J., Cradler, J. & Engel, K. (1997). Computers and classrooms: The status of technology in U.S. schools. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service, Policy Information Center.
Koschmann, T. et al. (1994). Using technology to assist in realizing effective learning and instruction: A principled approach to the use of computers in collaborative learning. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 3(1): 227-264.
O’Dwyer, L. et al. (2005). Examining the relationship between home and school computer use and students’ English/Language Arts test scores. The Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment, 3(3): 23-37.