Is Technology Really Beneficial for Student Learning?

Sashah
Sep 25, 2016
3 min read

Article: “The Reality is That Technology is Doing More Than Good in Our Schools” says Education Chief

Summary:

Although the majority of schools are emerging through technology, other public and private schools around the globe are decreasing the use of laptops, phones and all electronic devices. Protesters, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's education (OECD) claims that “technology is doing more harm than good in our schools today”. To my surprise, while some schools are taking this suggesting into consideration, few agree and are returning to “more traditional teaching methods” as stated in the article. In more studies, countries that have switched from books to computers do not show a significant improvement in their academic skills. What’s the main cause for the abrupt change? The desired distractions for purposes other than actual work itself.

When technology comes to mind, our first thoughts are social media websites like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. Personally, I never imagined that these laptops and tablets were really a great way to teach students to begin with. I actually prefer the good old textbooks and notes on paper. That reason behind that is simply because I feel like everything becomes more clear and I gradually absorb more and more information when I write rather than type out my assignments first. Jotting down information on paper before copying it on the screen forces me to check over my work and distances me from what the internet has to offer. In conclusion, I think that the access should only be provided to students who lack certain physical or mental abilities, not those who take advantage of what technology has to supply.

Website:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/the-reality-is-that-technology-is-doing-more-harm-than-good-in-our-schools-says-education-chief-20160330-gnu370.html

Article: The Pros and Cons of Technology in the Classroom

Summary:

In many cases, people believe that technology is probably the most efficient way of learning, since you have tons of information at the the point of your fingertips. Except, others assume that technology is only a distraction and an addiction that was never meant to aid in schools education to begin with. As the debate continues, I have gathered a couple of pros and cons about the idea of having electronic devices in classrooms. To start off, some researchers are worried that such an immoderate amount of screen time can create horrible sleeping habits. If started by a young age, kids will concentrate more on learning to choose and swipe, then actual “development processes” like handwriting and solving puzzles as mentioned in the article. However, most school employees are worried if educational technology can really replace teachers in the years to come. But, the most annoying side to technology is the distractions that comes with the privilege of using gadgets in class. Students could be snapchatting their peers one moment, then just as the teacher strolls towards them, they could switch sites in just seconds making it unnoticeable that they were occupying themselves with other accounts. The good side is that certain apps and programs can help teachers keep track of what their children are currently doing on their sites, as well as allowing the professor to know more about their students as individuals, so they can prioritize on how to educate the student in order for them to thriving in their academic skills. The best part would be that technology aids students with special needs to flourish in their weakened skills, the same way as an average kid were to receive knowledge during a regular session in class. Another benefit for young adults who lack the ability to speak is the fact that they can now socialize better and be more comfortable in adjusting to the school's environment.

The article certainly made me rethink my view on technology in classrooms. I agree to the fact that people with disabilities should absolutely use these gadgets to their advantage. However, not all students should get the same privileges, in order to balance out every person’s skills. Although I have to admit that some styles of teaching which only consists of screens and rare interactions between the teacher and the students itself can be a problem, since there isn't much connection within the kid and professor to let the youngsters to willingly ask question. Maybe gadgets can be used on special occasions, but not to the extent where every child's face is hooked to the screen 24/7.