Technology is transforming every field of life today including education.
Thanks to
digitalization, the concept of eLearning came up! It resulted in the use of desktops,
laptops, smartphones, and software applications for teaching and learning outside the
classrooms.
No doubt, the education sector is highly benefitted from the rapid evolution in the
technology world. It eased the life of both students and teachers. More specifically, the
use of technology brought progressive changes in teaching methods. This consecutively
helped students to learn efficiently and improve their academic performance and get
good grades in school.
While you may still wonder why the use of technology in education is intensifying day by
day, this blog clears your every doubt. Here, we explained the immeasurable impact of
technology on education by pointing out its key benefits for students. Read this blog
further to know.
What is Educational Technology?
Putting it simply, educational technology or EdTech is the use of software solutions,
digital tools, and media that help in transferring knowledge and exchanging learning
materials.
According to Forbes’s article by Daniel Newman who is a technology innovation
specialist, educational technology brought drastic positive changes in learning. It says
that advanced technologies enhanced the teacher’s instructions while simultaneously
making learning a fun experience for the students.
Some of the noteworthy changes that students and teachers are experiencing today
due to educational technology are:
1. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
Augmented reality is enabling students to see science concepts as visual graphics on
screen in the class or real-time environment. Virtual reality, on the other hand, lets
students take an educational tour of places/destinations without leaving the classroom.
Both technologies together are truly transforming the mode of teaching and creating
immersive learning experiences for students. In short, it makes the lessons interesting
and fun-filled for them.
2. Set of Devices for Classrooms
Educational technology bought a set of devices for classrooms, saying bye to the norm
of BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices for students. They also no longer have to visit
computer centers or technology labs. Students in most schools are provided with
laptops, tablets, or iPads. In the pervasive online environment, it also became
necessary for them to be aware of cyber security.
3. Personalized Education
One of the impactful changes brought by EdTech is personalized learning. In every
aspect, whether it is a classroom, home study, or virtual session, students can get tailor-
made learning experiences. It helps students choose learning patterns that suit their
needs or capabilities. It also resulted in blended learning, which gave more
responsibility to the student. They must interact with teachers directly and engage in
discovery-based learning.
4. AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Lastly, the use of AI is one of the greatest technology benefits for students. It enabled
24×7 learning opportunities for students, task automation, access to global learning
sources, and helped in closing skill gaps. In other words, AI widened the scope of
personalized learning and is also assisting students to get answers/solutions quickly.
Educational Technology Challenges
According to a BuiltIn report, nearly 90% of teachers agreed that technology helped
them reinforce lessons and positively impact the performance of students. Other studies
showed that a majority of middle-school students improved their test scores or grades
after embracing technology and digital tools.
Despite this encouraging scenario, the use of technology in education comes with
challenges. Educational technology can negatively affect the students’ focus by
resulting in excessive screen time. Also, there are many doubts regarding the
effectiveness of teachers in using the tools or technology concepts like AR, VR, and AI.
Many schools could not afford the technologies because of the lack of resource support.
Teachers and students are facing a few challenges to thrive amidst the force of
educational technology. Here is a summary of the challenges that they mostly face
while adopting educational technology.
1. Resistance to change
There are many EdTech challenges but this is the most crucial one. Many teachers,
parents, and educational institutes do not accept technology wholeheartedly. They
consider only real-time learning in classrooms or through one-to-one interactions with
parents to be effective.
2. Continuous upgrades
Technology needs consistent upgrades. Educational institutions, students, and teachers
need to update regularly, whatever learning tools and applications they use. This puts
an additional burden on them as they must continuously check software updates,
upgrade their devices, buy new devices, etc. to keep pace with the current EdTech
trends. 3.
3. Resources or infrastructure support
Any EdTech applications or devices need internet support for functions like video
streaming, online chat, video calling, and so on. Internet connectivity with higher
bandwidth and reliable devices are necessary for operating any EdTech apps or tools.
Thus, schools, teachers, and students need to have these resources support.
4. Insufficient technical skills
The education sector demands that teachers and students should have basic technical
skills and know-how. They are the primary users of EdTech tools and devices. So, they
must have the necessary skills or gain them to leverage the benefits of education
technology.
5. Higher costs
Adoption of technology in any field is cost-crunching. The constant technological
breakthroughs in the education sector compel educators and learners to invest in new
devices and EdTech solutions. The eLearning or technology in education is making
teaching and learning a costly experience in many ways.
The 21 Benefits of Technology in Education
The advantages of using technology in education are multifaceted. It is a blessing for
everyone in the sector, from education providers and schools to students.
The use of technology in education made learning easier and fun-filled for the students!
Educational institutions and teachers are using devices, AI-based tools, and AR/VR
technologies to engage them in an immersive learning experience. The students find
more interest in learning lessons and doing homework. This surely improves their
academic performance and grades.
In short, technology is consistently changing the education system for good. While it is
not at all replacing the traditional classroom methods of learning, it is blending with them
to prepare students for situations in the technology-paced world.
There are infinite benefits of technology in education! In this blog, we have
attempted to discuss some of the most important ones. Take a look:
1. Faster access to information
One of the most substantial advantages of technology in education is that it provides
students with an ocean of information at their fingertips. They can access the
information in the quickest possible time.
If you are a student, then gone are the days when you have to go to libraries and search
through piles of books to do an assignment/project/homework. Thanks to benefit of the
internet for a student! You can now access valid information anytime from a vast
number of sources, i.e., websites, tutorial sites, YouTube videos, eBooks, PDFs, and so
on.
This is the first ever effect of technology on education that students experience with the
advent of the World Wide Web. You can get unlimited information and data in just a few
clicks on your laptops, tablets, or mobiles. This enables you to prepare a lesson or write
a paper without anyone’s help. Thus, technology enriches your knowledge base and
makes you a self-sufficient learner.
2. Wider variety of learning materials
Students can access a huge variety of learning materials on the internet. They include
scientific articles, journals, research papers, educational videos, tutorials/guidebooks,
informational websites, online databases, and blogs of educators/authors.
These are extremely useful if you are a high school student. You can write academic
papers better providing all concrete information, facts, and statistics. You can support
an argument, establish a hypothesis, or derive a proper conclusion for your paper by
accessing the available information.
Technology helps you to enhance your academic grades without doing too much hard
work. You do not have to spend hours in the school library, borrow books/resources
from ex-students, or repeatedly bother the teachers. You can write well a paper by
yourself while putting all the authentic information and assure a good score.
3. Increases the scope for distance learning
A great benefit of the internet for students is the opportunity for distance learning.
Online classes became a reality with the power of the internet! Students can learn in the
same effective way through a virtual screen or chat room.
You can share documents, important resource links, and media files during the online
session with others students.
Schools and educators are complementing virtual learning sessions with traditional
classes, which are enhancing the learning capabilities and skills of students. They take
online classes outside the schools to provide additional tutoring to students, especially
the weaker ones. Moreover, if you are interested in a subject or field that is outside your
school curriculum like Data Analytics, you can take an online course to pursue your
interest.
Also, many new educational institutes are coming up with only offering virtual courses
for a spectrum of academic and professional subjects. Coursera, edX, and Udemy are
some of the prominent providers of comprehensive virtual courses.
4. Eases teaching methods
The benefits of EdTech also include an easy teaching experience. The teachers can
tutor the students from distance or communicate easily outside the classroom. This
enhances their ability to give instructions, improve the learning of students, and help
them get better academic scores.
Moreover, technology integration in education resulted in mobile/desktop applications
that are helpful as digital attention coaches for students! They helped teachers to
organize the homework or tasks of students. They can simultaneously check the
progress of tasks and remind or warn the students if they are late for a task.
Many schools or educators are using online tools today to keep an eye on their students
and assist them in progressing academically. They can easily know whose grades are
lower or who is slow in completing lessons. They can provide the necessary guidelines
to them and help to gradually improve their academic performance.
5. Improves learners’ communication skills in
schools
This is one of the noteworthy benefits of technology in higher education. Learners in
higher grades develop better abilities to communicate with various technological tools
and virtual courses.
Many students are reluctant to speak with the teachers in class or front of others.
However, their inhibition or introversion goes away during online sessions or classes.
They can interact freely through chat, audio, or video call, during their independent
screen time.
Communication skills are crucial for students to do well in academics and the
professional field in the future. If you have better communication abilities, you can
clearly express your opinions and take part in constructive discussions.
You can share your understanding with educators and know what’s on their minds.
Hence, you can garner more knowledge and use them effectively to improve your
academic performance.
6. Makes studying enjoyable
It is difficult to make young children sit in one place and learn. They easily get
distracted. Similarly, elder students find it tough to keep up their focus and complete
large papers or assignments. All in all, education is not a pleasant experience for all
students. But, with technology, it is now an enjoyable experience for all.
The use of tablets, laptops, VR/AR devices, and touchscreen boards makes classes
exciting for students. Teachers could easily keep up the attention of kids. Similarly,
these advanced technologies help students of higher classes to understand complex
concepts and science through immersive sessions.
Thus, one of the notable benefits of using technology in education is that it makes
learning fun for students. Teachers could see the interest of students grow, which is
reflected in their better academic marks.
7. Helps learners to acquire new skills and
knowledge
The use of technology in education also helps learners to gain new skills and enrich
their knowledge base. Internet and online courses made that possible! Enthusiastic
learners can search through a plethora of information sources online to know about a
particular topic. It will help them use their additional knowledge to prepare academic
lessons and surpass the scores of others.
EdTech is also helping aspiring young talents to garner professional skills that will help
them in the future to grow. Most professional skills or subjects are not included in the
academic syllabus such as Business Analytics, Machine Learning, Data Science, and
Digital Marketing. You can do an online course for any particular skill outside your
school hours. It will let you gain a thorough understanding of the subject and groom
yourself for a preferred career/professional field.
8. Keeps students updated with the latest
technological advancements
One of the supreme benefits of digital learning for students is that it helps them stay
updated on the latest technological evolutions. You can quickly adopt them and further
enhance your learning experiences.
New tools like digital task planners, virtual classrooms, and eLearning apps are gaining
prominence in the market. If you are aware of the trends of EdTech, you can use these
tools to your advantage and make progress academically.
Students who update themselves with technological evolutions in education are more
likely to be successful in their jobs. By utilizing their knowledge of the latest
technologies and trends, they can help organizations to operate efficiently and achieve
goals faster.
9. Allows students to enhance their mental
wellbeing
One of the significant benefits of digital technology in education is that it improves the
physical and mental well-being of students. Various digital tools eased their tedious
learning courses and made them interesting.
In many ways, EdTech methods improve your cognitive skills. Virtual learning sessions
and the integration of AR are two prime contributors. They enhance the capabilities of
your brain to read, interpret, learn, remember, think, and use logic. All these hugely
impact your academic learning and performance in the long run.
As you can score good grades/marks due to the use of educational technology, it gives
you confidence and a positive feeling. This boosts your mental health and helps you to
concentrate better on your studies.
10. Makes teaching easier and more productive
The advantages of EdTech are not only confined to the learning experience of students
but also the teaching experience of educators. The different uses of technology, such as
audio-visual presentations, virtual classrooms, wide-screen projectors, and digital
planners help teachers to improve their delivery of instructions. This consequently
enhanced the understanding and comprehension level of the students.
Besides, technologies increase the productivity of teachers! The digital tools they use
not only increase the engagement of students but also provide them with more learning
opportunities. Many teachers can also tailor-made their instruction method and use
personalized tools for weaker students.
Altogether, educational technology helped teachers to increase their productivity, which
benefitted both the students and schools.
11. Helps teachers to track students’ performance
and progress
One of the finest outcomes of technology integration in education is the homework
planner software or task manager used by teachers. They are digital replacements for
the school diary or paper planner. The teachers can feed in all assignments and
projects for the day, week, or month. They can schedule them deadline-wise. They get
real-time updates as the students start a task, pause it, and complete it.
A comprehensive digital planner also comes with a dashboard, which helps teachers to
get an overview of the performance of the students. They can see hours studied,
projects completed/in progress, grades obtained for completed lessons, and so on.
They can also track the individual performance, achievements, and pitfalls of the
students. It helps them to decide their syllabi accordingly in the next learning session.
12. Limits external distractions as much as
possible
While many experts argued that technology in education is a source of distraction, the
situation is the opposite in reality. But, this is assured only if educators and schools
know the right use of technology. If they provide students with mobile-based learning
apps, it will easily distract them. They tend to move to social media sites, gaming apps,
etc.
Thus, you should choose learning tools, such as desktop-based digital planners that
limit distractions and help students to focus better. Those apps are featured to block
external distractions and provide students with a secluded homework zone during their
study time.
13. Improves collaboration between students and
teachers
One of the assured benefits of using technology in education is improved collaboration
between students and teachers. Online learning system not just enables the teachers to
interact with students during lessons. It also allows the students to engage in one-to-
one interactions with the teachers. By staying at the home, they can upload their
projects or homework, which teachers can access and give necessary
recommendations.
In the case of collaborative activities like group projects, compare the situation of a
classroom with a virtual classroom setting. There are a few groups of students and the
teacher assigns them tasks. Chaos or confusion is inevitable as some students will be
loud, some will ask questions, some will be shy to ask, and some could not get the
opportunity to be heard. Contrary to this, such a situation does not happen in an online
setting. Every student is connected in the virtual classroom. The teacher responds and
resolves queries of each of them individually, on independent screens.
It can be said that online learning also fostered interactions between students outside
the school. They can share ideas and resources for difficult projects and support each
other.
14. Personalized learning experiences
Educational technology provided students with 24×7 access to information and
resources. Anyone who could not absorb concepts or learn in the classroom can opt for
additional in-person online sessions.
Precisely, teachers can also create tailor-made learning plans for their students,
according to their capabilities and interests. This is an added advantage of online
learning which gives teachers peace of mind as they can pay attention to every student.
Also, the students get the scope to learn with ease and comfort. They do not have to
see or follow what others are doing in the class. Instead, they can follow the distinct
schedule set by their teacher and do the assigned tasks.
15. Improvement in students’ productivity
Online educational tools are helping students to enhance their self-learning which is
reflected in their growing academic productivity! Apart from personalized learning
experiences, EdTech also enabled them to gain skills in task management and develop
cognitive thinking. This is especially necessary for students when they reach higher
grades. It aids them to manage piles of assignments and complete them one by one on
time, without losing focus.
Many time-bound online courses helped students to develop a sense of dedication.
They learned to avoid any kind of diversions or disruptions in their schedule to complete
the courses just in time. Students also have easy and instant access to information and
learning resources.
Also, they can initiate an online interaction or chat with a teacher outside the classroom
to get additional help on a project. So, there is no question of getting stuck in the middle
of a project or assignment. Altogether, online educational tools help students
concentrate better on their studies and enrich their learning experiences, which
improves their overall productivity.
16. Gamification that motivates students
No wonder technology drives innovation and creativity! Creators of different EdTech
tools and applications incorporated fun elements to engage the young learners better.
This is also called gamification where apps provide intuitive responses such as reward
points, scores, clap sounds, congratulatory visuals, appreciation remarks, etc. on
completion of a learning step. This is highly motivating for the students and pushes
them to go to the next step.
Many eLearning apps come with interactive gaming elements such as the collection of
coins, gems, or other rewards. They feature personalized scoreboards, which allow
students to compete and outperform others. In other words, gamification helped
students learn in a fun and interesting way while building their focus and encouraging
them to do better.
17. Immersive learning experiences
The concepts of VR and AR provided students with immersive learning experiences,
which only helped in strengthening their knowledge base. Teachers or educational
institutes used these technologies to teach tough science concepts, baffling theories,
and historical places to the students. This made things easier to absorb and remember
for the students, which was hard with textbooks.
Also, educational technology helped students enjoy learning a lot! Students are no
longer confined to images and descriptions provided in textbooks. They can search on
the web, browse through websites, and see videos. This helped them gain in-depth
insights into a subject or concept and get better marks by preparing comprehensive
papers.
18. Relieves the stress of parents and teachers
Digital applications are also eliminating the need for teachers to maintain a diary or to-
do list of tasks. Virtual lesson planners, grading software apps, and online assessments
have helped them save a lot of time. They can input everything in the application and
schedule their submissions according to the deadlines. So, students will never miss out
on any assignment if they use such an app!
This brings great relief for the parents too. Many apps keep track of their homework or
assignments and remind students about their deadlines. Thus, students become self-
aware and complete their tasks on time. So, the parents do not need to hover around
their children’s shoulders to check whether they are doing their work.
The other eLearning options such as online open courses, eBooks, YouTube tutorials,
etc. have added to the learning experience of students, especially those in higher
classes. They do not need to bother the teacher often to seek guidance in assignments.
This not only helped teachers relax a bit but also improved their relationship with
students.
19. Ensures sustainable learning
One of the most crucial EdTech benefits is that it helps protect the environment and
ensures sustainable learning. Digital learning tools and virtual sessions are saving a
huge amount of paper and hence, trees.
Teachers are encouraging students to take their tests online or prepare their
assignments on computers, which could be shared through email or cloud storage.
Many schools and educators are replacing paper books with eReaders in the wake of
rapid environmental damage.
The use of technology in education made students of this generation understand the
significance of environmental sustainability. Electronic and digital mediums of learning
are not only saving the environment but also providing convenience to teachers and
students. It is helping them save up costs on different learning resources like books,
notebooks, boards, paper planners, educational outings, etc.
20. Prepares for the digital future
The benefits of using technology in learning today will prepare you for the future, which
is going to be fully digitized. The world is advancing towards an era where everything is
influenced or powered by technology.
Different tools of EdTech like virtual classrooms, AI-assisted planners, video learning,
engaged learning for TV apps, online assessments, etc. made students acquainted with
modern-day technologies. It also helped them to set priorities regarding the use of
technology. They can differentiate the technologies used for recreation such as gaming
apps, TV apps, OTT, social media, etc. from the technologies helpful in learning. This
will help them draw a line and use technology wisely.
Different companies today hire talents after assessing their education level, cognitive
skills, as well as, technical competency. When students are familiar with different
technologies from an early age, they can easily land a job in the desired company. Their
parents do not have to engage them anywhere for vocational training and to make them
competent at using computers, software programs, and online communication tools.
21. Helps students to learn at their own pace
Lastly, the intervention of technology in education enabled the children to learn at their
own pace. There are many students with lesser learning capabilities or memorization
skills than others. The competitive classroom environment and usual teaching methods
are not suitable for them as they could not catch up with the lessons. They need special
attention to perform better academically.
One of the biggest benefits of using technology in education is that it helped such
students get an education in a personalized way. There are digital apps that allow
teachers to set individualized learning programs and schedules for them. They could set
tasks and timelines for submission, according to their capabilities and skills. While this
benefitted many kids and helped them improve their academic scores. it also assisted
teachers to teach students with ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) or such
issues, independently.
Concept of Educational Technology
By educational technology, it means the unity of technologies such as computers, web
and multimedia, digital boards, overhead projectors, and video integration. All these are
truly influencing the education sector, assisting in the teaching and learning processes.
But, how do they work for the students, teachers, parents, and classrooms separately?
Let’s find out.
1. For Students
The judicious use of technology in education helped students to increase their
engagement in learning and increase their academic success rate. Some of the key
ways educational technology is influencing students’ life are:
Connects them with teachers and increases communication.
Enhances group interactions or interaction with other students.
Provides students with access to a vast pool of information.
Helps the students to connect to the outside world.
Prepares students for the workforce.
Engages collaboration with teachers and educational institutes.
Teaches punctuality and responsibility.
Adds a fun factor and sparks interest in learning.
2. For Teachers
Teachers can use different tools of educational technology to their advantage and
provide a constructive learning experience to the students. They enabled the teachers
to engage with new methods of teaching that is attention-grabbing for the students.
Teachers derive the following benefits from educational technology.
Teach in an enriched learning environment where they can attend to students
separately.
Engage the students physically and virtually through AR/VR technologies and
multimedia content respectively.
Help students develop practical learning skills by infusing immersive and
cognitive exercises in the class.
Provide instant resources to students, which helped them enhance the
performance of academic papers.
Grab the interests of students and ensure higher retention.
Meet the unique requirements of students with special abilities with the help of
personalized learning tools.
3. For Parents
The use of technology in education boosts parents’ confidence and helped them
support their children better. Here are the key ways parents are benefitted.
Parents could set expectations for their students and track their children’s
activities.
They could use technology to help their kids face struggles in education and
overcome them. The finest example is the use of a digital homework planner,
which works as an attention coach for students with attention deficiency.
Parents could get help from available online resources and educational tools to
help their children in completing a task.
They can access educational videos and recorded class lectures to understand
the learning experience of their kids and support them.
Parents do not need to continuously keep an eye on their kids to help them focus
on their studies and can relax or enjoy their own time.
4. In Classroom
The use of technology in education benefitted students, teachers, and parents while
transforming the classroom setting. The incorporation of different technologies has
helped classrooms to provide learning experiences. Here’s how.
The technology resulted in immersive and engaging learning with the use of
videos, educational TV apps, web resources, and projectors.
Improved collaboration between teachers and students which helps in group
activities.
Enabled the schools to engage in practical exercises that improved the cognitive
skills and problem-solving techniques of students.
Helped schools understand the educational requirements of different students
and incorporate strategies and curriculums accordingly.
Enabled educational institutions to engage in seamless planning, execution, and
evaluation of different learning methods.
What Are The Types Of Education
Technology?
The countless benefits of educational technology are seen in every area of the
education sector. Thanks to the multiple types of educational technology, teachers and
students can now experience a new phase of learning.
Various types of technologies that 21st-century schools and educators are using are:
1. Learning management systems:
It implies the various innovative tools used by teachers to facilitate learning in the
classroom and offline. Some of the prominent examples are Digital Whiteboards,
Google Classroom, Digital Homework Planner, Moodle, and TalentLMS.
2. AR and VR
Augment and Virtual Reality is still developing, and they have a long way to go to fully
influence the education experience. As of now, they help students to visualize real-life
concepts and places in the classroom setting and understand them deeply.
3. Mobile devices
Mobiles or smartphones with installed apps are helping students to fulfill different
educational purposes. They can access information on Google, YouTube, and Social
media. They can access various eLearning platforms, chat with teachers and other
students, attend online webinars, etc.
4. 3D Printers
It is an advanced form of educational technology, providing opportunities for students to
create 3D models of various objects, from art sculptures to science stuff. It fostered the
creativity of students in developing school projects.
5. Smart Classroom
The technological evolution in the education sector modernized the classrooms. It led to
the innovation of smart classrooms where computers, projectors, tablets, and software
are all connected and well-coordinated. This aided in teaching and grabbed the interest
of students in academic subjects.
6. Gamification
This technology involves presenting students with digital rewards or badges for goal
fulfillment in academics. It involves point scoring, team ranking, and fun games.
Gamification has grown the interest of students in studies and motivated them to do
better.
Is Technology The Future Of Education?
The use of technology in education along with digitalization brought massive change to
the whole learning system worldwide. But this leaves us with a big question. Is
technology the future of our education?
If you are not sure, here are a few reasons to justify why technology in education is
going to stay in the future!
1. Gives students practical experience
The advantage of eLearning systems or EdTech tools is that they helped students to
learn basic technical skills which prepare them for their professional journey in the
future.
2. Makes studying interesting
Studying is boring to most students. Besides young children with less attention span
find it difficult to keep their focus on their studies. A different form of engaging learning
tools and immersive experiences made studying interesting for them and helped them
do better.
3. Gives access to unlimited information
Education and learning spree increased in students because they got a treasure of
unlimited information on the interest. They can solve their heightened curiosity on any
matter or subject by getting valid information from sources.
4. Boost collaborative spirits
The use of technology in education results in better collaboration among students and
teachers. It allows students from different locations to collaborate on the same project.
Similarly, it allows the teachers to interact with them and support the students.
5. Gives additional tools to teachers
Teachers have additional tools at their end, which helped them to educate and instruct
the students better. They can teach theories through audio-visual examples that
students can easily absorb. Teachers can also access valuable information and learn
new things to increase their knowledge base and teach more constructively.
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%20significant%20benefits,methods%20improve%20your%20cognitive%20skills.
