Do you have fond memories of being at school? Stuffy classrooms where everyone had to sit in silence while the nerdy kid at the front recited his times tables backward. Perhaps there was that naughty kid who was always being the class clown, or perhaps that naughty kid was you?
Whatever your memories of school are, the one thing that is probably lacking from your recollection is that of the use of technology and there’s one very simple reason for that: technology just wasn’t embraced by schools back then.
In today’s world of technology, a whole host of innovative learning tools are available to make teaching easier and to make learning more enjoyable. However, despite the benefits they offer, schools are often reluctant to adopt them. So why is that?
Technological Challenges
The increasing use of technology in education has been beneficial for all students, but it also comes with some challenges – one such challenge is that there’s the question of access. In order for students to be able to take advantage of these technologies, they must have access to them.
Unsurprisingly, this can be a significant barrier when you consider that teachers often have desks and staff areas in which computers and other technological devices aren’t allowed.
Losing The Human Touch
Another question that many people who are not so fond of technology ask is ‘is elearning better than face to face training‘? Clearly, there is no easy answer to this question. The one thing that most people agree on, however, is that you can’t beat the human touch in learning.
As traditional learning has evolved, some argue that this has resulted in a loss of emphasis on face-to-face teaching.
Elearning allows educators to choose when and where they want to deliver their training – it’s flexible, adaptive, and personalized – but what are the repercussions?
The Dangers Of Tech In Classrooms
The debate between whether e-learning is better than face-to-face teaching is only one example of the broader debate about the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in the classroom.
Many educators have raised concerns about the safety of students, teachers, and other learners after they’ve used technologies like laptops, smartphones, and tablets in class.
Evaluations of Dangerous Uses Of Technology
Since its introduction into classrooms a few decades ago, technology has gained widespread acceptance by educators.
The use of gaming systems was especially widespread in classrooms during many parts of the last decade – although there is controversy surrounding some games that are used to teach children social skills.
Conclusion
Technological advances are rapidly changing the learning environment, and this is a major reason why schools are having challenges embracing them.
The technology on offer to educators is becoming increasingly sophisticated and intuitive, but because of concerns over their use in the classroom, schools aren’t embracing them as fast as they could.
Without targeted strategies to overcome these fears, therefore, technological flexibility in classrooms may remain an elusive goal.
