The effects of advancement in technology can be seen in various parts of our life. From smart homes to smartphones, technology has made our lives easier, improved accessibility, enhanced precision and created better experiences for us in myriad ways, and the field of education is no different. The use of technology-based applications in the education sector has found a firm footing, especially in the last couple of years.
Technology has allowed institutions and educators to not just adopt but employ a holistic approach to education. Technology-based applications have benefits for both parties involved, which are the students and the educators. It assists educators in delivering content curated to suit the needs of the students. It allows educators to identify individual areas of improvement for their students and address them with suitable solutions creating a whole learning experience for the students.
Here are a few vital advantages I believe that technology integration provides in the education sector:
Enhanced learning experiences – With the use of tech-based tools in classrooms such as smart boards, audio-visual equipment, digital books etc., the students can interact with the educational content. For example, instead of just looking at a 2-D diagram on a textbook page, the students can visualise and understand the functioning of the object better on a digital platform. The teachers with the help of digital tools are also able to provide various references connected to the topic to engage students which may not be possible in a traditional classroom setup.
Promotes digital literacy – With innovations and technological advancements appearing almost daily, possessing basic knowledge of using tech-based tools and developing a tech-friendly mindset has become crucial for students and budding professionals. By integrating tech-based tools and applications in classrooms, educators are improving the overall digital literacy of the students.
Encourages experiential learning -Through the use of tech-based applications, educators can encourage students to participate in live simulation projects, that provide students with the opportunity to experience real-life industrial challenges and improve their understanding of the real-life applications of the concepts they learn in the classrooms. This results in the students gaining practical knowledge and allows them to develop a solution-driven mindset.
Promotes development of essential skills – The use of ed-tech applications in classrooms helps students acquire and hone skills of collaboration, and teamwork and also promotes creative thinking. It allows students to share and discuss various aspects of the concepts they are learning in school. Collaborating in a digital setting also encourages the students in peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
Improved student engagement – Gamification uses a similar concept of rewards and progress that many games employ. The gamified educational applications reward students for every correct answer and level of progress, adding a fun element to their studies. With the use of tools and applications based on the concept of gamification in classrooms, teachers can ensure improved active engagement of the students.
Improved accessibility – As important as ease of access is in other domains, students benefit in many ways from a one-stop-shop approach to a wide range of content in one place. With books and content being distributed through a digital platform, students can utilize digital libraries brought under one roof by ed-tech applications to experience seamless access to knowledge and references as required.
Enhanced research skills – With theoretical concepts at hand and easily available through the use of ed-tech, students can dedicate considerable efforts and time to understand & absorb the applications of the theory in real-life situations. This is further boosted by easy access to tons of material from various sources at their fingertips, allowing them to delve deeper into the concepts, in the process also sharpening their research skills.
Simplified grading systems – In a traditional setting, teachers are faced with the tedious task of grading countless assignments, examination papers and worksheets. With the integration of technologies not only are the examinations held on a digital platform but also the grading is quick, unbiased and accurate.
Actionable feedback – By utilizing technology in a classroom setting, educators can provide individualized, detailed, and actionable feedback to the students to help them improve their performances. The worksheets or assignments based on actionable feedback can be customized for each student ensuring their particular learning needs are addressed appropriately.
Improved content delivery – With the use of digital tools in the classroom, teachers can deliver a lot more relevant learning content to the students simultaneously. It also allows them to utilize more resources to curate superior content and create an enriching learning experience for the students.
Neeraj Sharma is the Vice Chairman, The Lexicon Group of Institutes & MultiFit