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THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION SERVICES

Updated: May 29, 2023

"Technology is not a substitute for great teaching, but technology can enhance great teaching."

- Joel Klein


Technology surrounds us! It is rapidly transforming the world in all of its facets, and it is unsurprising that it has revolutionised one of the world's largest sectors, the "Education" industry. Technology has actively played a bigger role in education over the past few years, as it has the ability to enhance the students' educational experiences, provide access to learning resources, and promote collaboration and communication among learners, teachers, and other educational stakeholders. With the use of technology, teachers and students are able to communicate in-person and virtually in real-time through live chat and virtual attendance. Additionally, a variety of other resources required for learning are available, including the previously recorded classes.



How has technology changed the education system?


Prior to the extensive use of technology in education, the school system depended solely on traditional teaching methods such as lectures, textbooks, and handwritten assignments. Several significant changes to the educational system have been brought about by technology, including:

  1. More educational resources : Students and teachers have access to a large assortment of educational resources, including online textbooks, videos, and instructional apps, thanks to advances in technology.

  2. Personalised learning : Technology enables customised and flexible learning experiences that are suited to each student's unique needs and pace. It refers to a wide range of education programmes, knowledge acquisition, instructional methodologies, and intellectual strategies designed to meet the specific learning requirements, skills, goals, or ethnic backgrounds of individual learners. For example, An educator provides learning material that is suitable in terms of content and situation for the student.

  3. Blended and online learning : Students have the liberty to choose to learn in a variety of methods, including in-person, online, or a combination of the two, again thanks to advances in technology. Learners have the advantage of time as well as there are flexible and recorded lectures available if they missed any.

  4. Enhanced teaching and learning experiences : With the advancement of technology, teachers are to develop exciting, engaging and interactive educational resources that can improve student academic achievement.

  5. Collaboration and communication : Due to technology students and teachers can efficiently interact and communicate regardless of location, date or hour respectively.

  6. Future-oriented education : Technology is preparing learners for the future since they will need to be proficient users of technology as they will be working in a technologically advanced environment. Getting learners ready for the future!


Why Is Technology Crucial in education?


One of the key obligations of technology in education is that it helps professors to offer essential study material to students thus they can have better understanding of the subject and solve problems more effectively. Educational technology addresses smart and modernised classes, which primarily concentrates on enhancing each student's performance. Technology does hold significant importance in education as it improves the quality of learning by facilitating students' knowledge and capabilities. Aside from that, students can access study material from any geographical location, wherever they go, using E-learning technology tools.


Despite having several higher technology driven education resources, schools till date continue to use pen/pencil-and-paper learning methods along with tech tools. However, technology in education has altered the entire educational framework, improving the learning process at the tip of students' fingers.


Conclusion :

In summary, technology has the power to have a big influence on the educational landscape. By giving students access to resources, encouraging student interaction and collaboration, and facilitating personalised and adaptable learning experiences, it can support teaching and learning when used properly. Technology utilisation can also improve the effectiveness and efficiency of educational procedures like evaluation and feedback.


Thus, spending money on educational technology can pay off provided it forms a part of an evidence-based plan that takes into consideration the unique requirements and context of the educational setting. As a result, investing in educational technology might be worthwhile!


Common questions and misconceptions about using technology

Q) What is the screen time exposure for different age groups up to teen years?


Ans : The amount of time each age group should spend watching screens varies depending on the source, however some often stated suggestions are:

Birth to 18 months : Avoid screen usage with the exception of video chatting with loved ones.

18 to 24 months: High-quality content and limited screen time with a parent or guardian

2 to 5 years: 1 hour or less of screen time per day, supervised by a parent or other adult.

No more than two hours of leisurely screen usage each day for children ages 6 and up.

It's crucial to remember that these are only recommendations, and that a child's real screen time demands may vary depending on their particular requirements, hobbies, and levels of physical activity. Moreover, the level and nature of screen time



Q) What Is the Status of Virtual Education and Distance Learning?


Ans : Virtual education and distance learning have grown in prominence in recent years, owing in large part to the COVID-19 epidemic. Many educational institutions and organisations have shifted to online course and programme delivery, and the use of technology and digital resources in education is becoming more common. However, there are some disadvantages to virtual education, including unequal access to technology, the difficulty of replicating the interactive and hands-on components of traditional in-person learning, and the need for teachers to adapt to new instructional styles. Despite these challenges, virtual education and distance learning are likely to continue to be essential in the field of education in the future.



Q) Open Educational Resources: What Are They?


Ans : Open Educational Resources (OER) are educational materials that are free and freely licensed and can be used, reused, and repurposed by anyone for the purposes of teaching, learning, or research. Textbooks, course modules, films, audio files, simulations, and other sorts of digital resources can all be considered OERs. They are frequently offered online, making them accessible to educators and students all around the world. OERs are intended to aid education by providing alternatives to standard commercial resources, which can be costly and limit access to learning materials. Educators and students can save money, modify their learning materials, and encourage collaboration and sharing in the educational community by embracing OERs.



Q) Is it worthwhile to invest in educational technology?


Ans : Investing in educational technology has several advantages and can be beneficial in some circumstances. Technology can improve teaching and learning by giving students access to a variety of resources, encouraging student interaction and collaboration, and enabling personalised and adaptive learning experiences.

However, it is important to note that technology should not be viewed as a silver bullet solution to all educational challenges, and investment in educational technology should be guided by a clear understanding of educational goals and the specific challenges that the technology is intended to address. Furthermore, effective technology integration in education necessitates the development of teacher ability as well as the provision of suitable technical assistance.



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