The Use of Technology in Education

Technology continually allows people to enjoy doing things with great comfort. Technological advancements have significant contributions in different fields like aeronautics, medicine, finance, and business. Some say technology has also brought lots of advantages to the field of education. However, others are doubtful about this claim because they believe that incorporating technology in educational systems has brought more drawbacks than gains. The inclusion of new technologies in education is now a hot topic of debate.

Supporters of incorporating new technologies in education say the ultimate advantage of doing so is how it can prepare younger generations for what the future holds for them. It is obvious that the future will be technology and digitally focused, so incorporating technology in the lives of people as early as possible will allow them to have a better understanding of the digital world.

Supporters add that the introduction of new technologies in education encourages the development of new teaching methods that are congruent with the digitalization of the world people live in. Through technologies, teachers will no longer be limited to just using textbooks and whiteboards as they teach their students. They can use the Internet and electronic devices to make their classes more interesting and effective.

The inclusion of new technologies in education is seen by some as something that will promote independent learning because lots of educational resources are provided by technology. Students can learn even without the supervision of teachers or parents. However, this is among the top reasons why opponents are against the inclusion of new technologies in education.

For the opponents, the inclusion of new technologies in education diminishes social interactions between teachers and students and interactions between students and their peers. Educational systems are not limited to merely giving information to students. Their efficiency also has a lot to do with classroom interactions. Face-to-face interactions make it easier for teachers to assess the students’ understanding and check clarifications that need to be made. Including technologies does not allow teachers to easily do such things.

Opponents add that including new technologies in education removes the value of requiring students to enroll at traditional educational institutions. Technology will just destroy traditional teaching practice. If students can really learn better with the use of the Internet and electronic devices then they can just study online using home computers or handheld devices.