How is Technology Improving Education?

Technology is an important aspect of our lives – be it education or in regular household work. It is changing the way we communicate and go about our lives. In this respect, when we talk about education, very few would disagree with the notion that technology has dramatically changed teaching and the learning process. It is helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-based learning and engage students to help them learn in a better way. We see its role in school has evolved from ‘computer classes’ to versatile learning tool that has completely changed the way teachers validate concepts, assign projects and assignments and evaluate student’s progress.Let us find out how technology and learning has taken a new dimension and support both the teachers and the pupils in their teaching/learning process

Technological models and simulation

Teachers would agree to the fact that it is difficult to demonstrate how molecules behave in different situations or why blending two specific chemicals can be dangerous? However, with digital simulation and models, teachers can easily explain any complex concept or processes. Teachers can now utilize different software that helps them to model concepts including fluid mechanics, gas laws, physics of energy efficiency or chemical bonding and simulations to show how electrons interact with matter. However, teachers need training in the system which further helps them to create activities with text, models and interactive controls.

Efficient method of doing assessment

Models and simulation, besides being a powerful tool, also give teachers a wider picture of how students understand them. Through models and simulation, teachers can give students a problem that is much more like a performance assessment. For instance, a program called Concord Consortium helped students understand the genetics by breeding dragons. Teachers asked students to create specific dragons and see what each student did to meet the end results. It also helped them to understand whether trial-and-error or actual knowledge of genetics leads to the right answer.Teachers can also use technology to collect real time assessment/project data from the students. When the teachers give out an assessment, the software helps them to check how much time each student is spending on the assessment, how much time each is spending on each question and whether their answers are correct. With the information collected, teachers can decide which concepts students are struggling with and accordingly conduct discussions to solve the problems.

Technological support for busy parents

Parental involvement is an important factor to enhance student achievement. Most of the parents these days have extremely busy schedules and finds it difficult to help their children with the studies. However, technology can help. Parents can contact teachers via email and class websites; can see what their child is working on, check their attendance and exam grades through online systems. Not only this, parents can also interact with their child from work via Instant Messaging or can use Skype during an urgency.

Technology to develop inquiry based projects

Projects allow students to come out of their typical learning process. It encourages them to think rather than memorize. Group projects also help students build important skills such as communication skill, critical thinking, problem solving and team work. Students can create web sites, multi-media presentation, and blogs as a part of their projects to make learning easier. They can also connect with students at other schools and do collaborative work and learn technological skills while doing projects.

Technology to help students understand numbers

No more teachers have to draw graphs or do a series of problems to explain the relationship between fractions, decimals and percent. Students can use Virtual manipulative to experiment with equations and develop a deeper understanding of their relationship. This technology assist students to play with the idea of numbers and what numbers mean. It also helps them to understand what happens when values are changed.

Technology based education for physically challenged students

Educational system for the physically challenged can be highly enhanced with technology based learning. It makes learning easier for them and gives them a sense of independence. Take for instance, the voice recognition software for the visually impaired allow them to give voice commands to machinery to perform tasks such as dictating an assignment for school. Similarly, students who have limited hand mobility can use a key-guard on a keyboard which helps them to guide pointing device to select a single key on the keyboard at a time.Technologies are redefining education. It is undoubtedly making learning creative and innovative and different from typical traditional education system. Image courtesy: http://learningonlineinfo.org/