Can we go with the impact of technology on modern education practices?

Man Wearing Black Headset by Ola Dapo

Today, our lives can’t be imagined without technology. These devices are everywhere: in cars, at hospitals, colleges, on the streets, etc. Modern people can’t even imagine their daily routine without their smartphones. They use them not only to contact others but also to take notes, listen to music, find the fastest route to an unknown destination, etc. And, the same goes for young learners who use different devices at schools in order not to bring lots of books, to take notes as well as share their works with others. Of course, these help us a lot, but what can the technology usage lead to? Is it really beneficial to implement technology in all spheres of life?

Of course, when we talk about technological progress, we think about the benefits it brings us. Modern medicine is much better with technologies; students have access to different tools that help them write a college essay, as well as the entire academic process has become more engaging. But does technology really bring only benefits, or does it also ruin young minds somehow?

In this article, we are going to discuss the positive and negative sides of technology in modern education as well as we will try to figure out how to balance and not let computers flood all around.

The positive side of technology

As it is generally accepted that technologies are here to help us and make our lives easier, let’s start with the positive side of it.

Access to information

The studying process is all about new information, and with technological progress, people have access to a large amount of information they can get from the rest of their homes. Today, there is no need for students to go to libraries and reserve books, magazines, documents, etc.; all they have to do now is to Google the needed source of information.

Collaboration while learning

Students oten are divided into groups to work on an issue. Compared to the previous times, when young learners had to meet anywhere in their spare time or stay at college after classes, today, they can stay home and interact via the Internet.

Interactive features

With technology, the education process has become more interesting and comprehensive. Today, educators use interactive boards to involve students in the learning process. Whiteboards, educational apps as well as multimedia tools engage young learners in the studying process.

Learning opportunities

One more benefit that should be presented is the opportunity to learn via the Internet as technology enables virtual classes, courses, etc., that students can attend not leaving their personal rooms. Here, it would be crucial to mention that such innovation did not simply give an opportunity to study from home but also save money. Operating online, such courses charge less as they do not have to rent classrooms and all their students need is a computer and Internet connection.

The negative side of technology

We have discussed the benefits of computers for educational processes, and now, let’s move to some negative ones as well. 

Inequality between students 

Well, not all students are equal and their opportunities are not equal too. Of course, most young learners have devices, but the characteristics of these devices differ, and this causes a number of issues. First, not all computers support up-to-date applications, and this can lead to a problem with the educational process. And, what is not obvious, students’ low opportunities can become a reason for bullying. 

Distractions

Not all institutions can provide students with devices, and that is why, in most cases, students come to classes with their personal gadgets. Unfortunately, during the studying process, it is impossible to control everyone, and when working with their own computers, students are more likely to be distracted from the learning process.

Full reliance on technology

One more issue that we can face with technological progress is an absolute reliance on machines. Students do not want to think they would better use their gadgets to solve the issue. Such an over-reliance on machines may lead to a lack of critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities as well as handwriting.

Social isolation

This is one of the most troublesome issues, as modern people are so digitalized that they want to do everything with the help of technology. Even communication with the closest people has come to a new level; people do not want to communicate in person; they would rather text with each other. Modern teens are less interested in active life, they are not interested in exploring the world and seeing this world with their own eyes. Instead, they prefer watching everything through the screen.

Quality of information

We have already mentioned that with the technology progress, students have access to a large amount of information, but it should be noted that the information available online is not always accurate. As a result, students need to know how to critically evaluate online sources and make sure the found information is reliable.

Of course, there are so many benefits that we receive thanks to modern technology, but if we do not want to lose the features that make us humans, we should balance and not dive into the machine world. Meet your friends, go outside, visit interesting places, travel, and stick to your own point of view, not the one you have read on the web, to always keep the balance.