How Technology Can Make Teaching and Learning Practices More Efficient or Effective?

 

How Technology Can Make Teaching and Learning Practices More Efficient or Effective?

Author: Santosh Kumar Biswa, Sr. Teacher, Damphu CS, Tsirang, Bhutan

 

Using technology in school to teach students is the most disputed topic among many schools and teachers because of its practical cons. But most school gives higher priority to the use of technology in the classroom because of its increasing popularity. According to Kalpan (2017), he stated that technology has become a necessity and is essential for effective access to wider knowledge to meet the urgent call in any educational process. In this digital world, we are accessible to various types of media-driven environments. Dewey said that the ultimate aim of education is not about making students sound in content but should attain academic excellence so that they become human with values, skills, and knowledge (Dewey, 1916/1980). The positive impact that technology brings on students’ learning experience has forced educationists to accept its relevance to the students because it helps students remain engaged and keep more information (Costley, 2014). Thus, the use of technology is the medium to make teaching and learning in the classroom more effective.

Shift from the traditional classroom to a new way of learning

First, with the use of technology, students can enhance their learning style, shifting from the traditional classroom to a new way of learning to match the generation that they are living with. It enables teachers to engage students by using technology and makes them more creative and critical in the way they think, do their tasks, and learn in the classroom. Teachers can use various social media mediums such as Zoom, Padlet, Kahoot, etc. to engage them during the learning process. Prensky (2008), in his findings, revealed that technology makes students capable of assembling a variety of concepts from internet resources meaningfully by using their analytical and creative skills to form new knowledge. They enjoy visiting the computer lab with their peers to work collaboratively rather than simply listening to what the teacher says in the classroom. They will improve their learning skills through discussion, inquiry, and research while using technology because they need not be every time inside the classroom. They can learn effectively with the use of Google Classroom, Padlet, Kahoot, messenger group, and WhatsApp group to communicate with their teachers and friends for necessary feedback and assessment. Thus, they change the pattern of learning by developing self-leadership in themselves to become efficient learners.

However, the challenges here can be the availability of internet facilities, good connectivity, and proper infrastructure in the school that hinders their learning. Or, the teacher may become over-dependent or overconfident with the use of technology and may shift his teaching to technology alone by providing little instruction and zero support and guidance. However, learning depends on how a teacher makes them learn and complete their task creatively (Johnson, 2015). In such cases, certain precautionary measures should be taken in advance so that students do not deviate.

Easy access to information while staying at one location

On the other hand, technology enables students to get easy access to information while staying at one location. Unlike the people in the past who faced difficulty in gathering information, technology enables them to have information about the world right at their fingertips. Students can easily exhibit their skills by properly filtering the media well to get the right information that enables them to be informed learners (Ledward and Hirata, 2011). Students’ engagement through project writing would be the medium that enables them to be efficient people in researching through critical thinking and coming up with creative ideas are some true essences of the 21st-century learning process. It not only improves their collaboration with their peers or groups but also makes them better their communication skills while carrying out the task using the technology. Moreover, teachers can be able to create a forum whereby they can provide them with extended opportunities to explore and learn themselves with improved engagement (AU, 2021) because it widens the classroom from a small room to the extent of different places they live.

However, technology also has certain challenges, although we have multiple advantages. Sometimes, students may get driven away from their real learning and may get addicted to social media sites such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, online games, etc., and may end up engaging themselves in other activities if certain considerations are not put in place with restrictions. Moreover, students may lose their interest in being social at home and school because of the use of excessive internet and its addiction and may break their relationships with their parents and friends Gaille (2018). 

Improved communication systems between parents and schools

Finally, technology enables parents and schools to have improved communication systems. Parents will have access to how their children are learning, their grades and achievements, attendance, reports on their behavior in school, etc. so that they can be a means to help their children at home to learn (Brown, 2019). Some parents might be uneducated and may not be able to help students at home. Technology plays a vital role in such a case by enabling students to continue solving their doubts with the use of Google, YouTube, or other personalized learning sites. It enables teachers to leverage technology to achieve the desired goal of productivity through improved support and engagement.

On the contrary, the challenges here are vital. All parents may not possess a mobile or a computer at home because of their economic status. Students belonging to such families may be left out during the learning from home. Moreover, the socioeconomic status of students in the school may hinder their motivation to use technology from home because it has adverse effects on the student’s academic learning and development (Li and Qui, 2018).

In conclusion, whatever the challenges technology has during the teaching and learning process. No one can escape from using technology. The present situation demands it. Teachers should plan carefully so that it makes students technologically sound and efficient learners because it can improve learning in various ways by deepening learners’ ability to think and use it well to be competent personnel when they complete their studies.

 

 

References

American University, (2021). How Important Is Technology in Education? Benefits, Challenges, and Impact on Students. https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/technology-in-education

Brown, C. (2019). How technology can help improve education.  https://www.classcraft.com/blog/how-has-technology-improved-education/

Costley, K. C. (2014). The Positive Effects of Technology on Teaching and Student Learning. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED554557.pdf

Dewey, J. (1916/1980). Democracy and education: An introduction to philosophy of education. In J. A. Boydston (Ed.), The middle works: 1899–1924, volume 9, 1916 (pp. 1–370). Carbondale/Edwardsville, IL: Southern Illinois University Press.

Gaille, B. (2018). 23 Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Education. https://brandongaille.com/23-advantages-disadvantages-technology-education/

Johnson, B. (2015). Creative Teacher" Is Not an Oxymoron. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/creative-teacher-not-oxymoron-ben-johnson

Kaplan, D.E. (2017). Creative technology in the curriculum in online teacher training. https://www.scirp.org/journal/papercitationdetails.aspx?paperid=77518&JournalID=136

Ledward, B. C., & Hirata, D. (2011). An overview of 21st century skills. Summary of 21st Century Skills for Students and Teachers, by Pacific Policy Research Centre. Honolulu: Kamehameha Schools–Research & Evaluation, 20.

Li, Z., and Qui, Z. (2018). How does family background affect children’s educational achievement? Evidence from Contemporary China. https://journalofchinesesociology.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40711-018-0083-8#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20children's%20learning,than%20that%20among%20rural%20children

Prensky, M. (2008). The role of technology in teaching and the classroom. https://marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Role_of_Technology-ET-11-12-08.pdf