Technology slowly seems to be taking over many aspects of human society. Education has gradually evolved to incorporate technology in the dissemination of information. This advancement has revolutionized the classroom environment leading to improved grades and learning experiences. While a small group of conservative-minded individuals remains skeptical about the use of technology in the classroom, the merits are self-evident. The question now remains, how is technology best utilized in the classroom and what are the potential advantages?
With advancements in technology rapidly developing, it is no surprise that it is affecting schools and teaching methods in a big way. Now, not only are the students being educated in using computers and other technological tools but it is now almost a requirement for most teachers to be skilled in that area. In addition to having adequate knowledge in their subject area and knowledge in the teaching field, technology and computers have become an integral part of a teacher’s job requirements.
Teachers are responsible for weighing between knowledge of where students are academically, where they need to be and to somehow gain insight into the special needs of students and their progress.
Teachers also have to contend with the choice of co-curricular activities and the rules that govern student’s participation. The expectations from parents, the community and in general the teacher’s code of conduct make the profession interesting. The addition of technology in education further complicates the equation and presents a host of many new questions.
As tablet computers and other smart devices slowly replace textbooks, we must also examine the challenges facing the implementation of technology in education. The main argument for incorporating technology in classrooms is, students should be able to apply classroom concepts to daily life with ease. Since a large part of daily life involves technology, using it in classes only seems right. Many learners today are apt at using tools such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones. Technology has become second nature. Eliminating the technology factor from the learning equation would, therefore, in a way be alienating a critical part of the students’ capabilities.
Similarly, in the rare cases where the students are not tech-savvy, there is a bigger cause to embrace technology. Understanding the role technology plays in the classrooms and workplaces among other areas is of vital importance. Staying competitive in the 21st-century dictates the need for technological finesse. However, one of the biggest problems facing the radical change in the centuries-old pedagogical methods used in education is that no parent wants their children to be the initial case study.
