Faculty department

Impact of Technology in Education
In today’s world, we all are interlinked with technology everywhere in our daily lives. So why not use Technology in Education. Technology is the only tool that helps to improve the education system in different ways. From teachers to students, technology leaves a vast impact on education. Modern EdTech makes education more flexible and perceptive. Various technology driven education tools have introduced free online resources, personalized learning materials, more engaging content, and a better understanding of visuals and opportunities for advanced learning.
3.Technology has impacted almost every aspect of life today, and education is no exception. Or is it? In some ways, education seems much the same as it has been for many years. A 14th century illustration by Laurentius de Voltolina depicts a university lecture in medieval Italy. The scene is easily recognizable because of its parallels to the modern day. The teacher lectures from a podium at the front of the room while the students sit in rows and listen. Some of the students have books open in front of them and appear to be following along. A few look bored. Some are talking to their neighbors. One appears to be sleeping. Classrooms today do not look much different, though you might find modern students looking at their laptops, tablets, or smart phones instead of books (though probably open to Facebook). A cynic would say that technology has done nothing to change education.
However, in many ways, technology has profoundly changed education. For one, technology has greatly expanded access to education. In medieval times, books were rare and only an elite few had access to educational opportunities. Individuals had to travel to centers of learning to get an education. Today, massive amounts of information (books, audio, images, videos) are available at one’s fingertips through the Internet, and opportunities for formal learning are available online worldwide through the Khan Academy, MOOCs, podcasts, traditional online degree programs, and more. Access to learning opportunities today is unprecedented in scope thanks to technology.
Opportunities for communication and collaboration have also been expanded by technology. Traditionally, classrooms have been relatively isolated, and collaboration has been limited to other students in the same classroom or building. Today, technology enables forms of communication and collaboration undreamt of in the past. Students in a classroom in the rural U.S., for example, can learn about the Arctic by following the expedition of a team of scientists in the region, read scientists’ blog posting, view photos, e-mail questions to the scientists, and even talk live with the scientists via a videoconference. Students can share what they are learning with students in other classrooms in other states who are tracking the same expedition. Students can collaborate on group projects using technology-based tools such as wikis and Google docs. The walls of the classrooms are no longer a barrier as technology enables new ways of learning, communicating, and working collaboratively.
Technology has also begun to change the roles of teachers and learners. In the traditional classroom, such as what we see depicted in de Voltolina’s illustration, the teacher is the primary source of information, and the learners passively receive it. This model of the teacher as the “sage on the stage” has been in education for a long time, and it is still very much in evidence today. However, because of the access to information and educational opportunity that technology has enabled, in many classrooms today we see the teacher’s role shifting to the “guide on the side” as students take more responsibility for their own learning using technology to gather relevant information. Schools and universities across the country are beginning to redesign learning spaces to enable this new model of education, foster more interaction and small group work, and use technology as an enabler.
Technology is a powerful tool that can support and transform education in many ways, from making it easier for teachers to create instructional materials to enabling new ways for people to learn and work together. With the worldwide reach of the Internet and the ubiquity of smart devices that can connect to it, a new age of anytime anywhere education is dawning. It will be up to instructional designers and educational technologies to make the most of the opportunities provided by technology to change education so that effective and efficient education is available to everyone everywhere.
You can help shape the influence of technology in education with an Online Master of Science in Education in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University Online. This accredited program offers studies in exciting new technologies that are shaping education and offers students the opportunity to take part in the future of innovation.
Although technology is finally being integrated into education, its use for teaching and learning still remains a challenge. Despite the fact that many schools today are privileged to have ready access to technology, trained teachers, and a favourable policy environment, the use of technology in the classroom is still low. Some attribute low levels of technology use in education to the pedagogical beliefs of teachers.
With that said, the potential of technology to enhance learning cannot be overemphasized. The use of technology is something that started a long time ago for students with special needs. For example, brail machines have been utilized for the visually impaired. In addition, special needs programs that help children with autism use technology to enhance learning. By integrating technology into education, educators aim to engender pedagogical change and address fundamental issues that affect learners with special needs. Technology can therefore be seen as both a tool and a catalyst for change.
Today, technologies used to improve and facilitate learning can be found everywhere. Leaving other contextual factors to the side – such as unequal access to technological innovations and connected technologies across schools and districts – we can only say that we have embraced technology in education when it is used for both teaching and learning. With the incorporation of technology into schools, the main purpose is to change how teachers and students gather, access, analyse, present and transmit information. This can democratize information in classrooms as well as help differentiate instruction, particularly for students with special needs.

Assistive technology for students with special needs

Assistive technology can be defined as an item, piece of equipment or product system that can be used to maintain, increase or improve functional capabilities for any person with a special need. Thus, the incorporation of educational technology can also provide benefits to students with disabilities who may be in a better position to interact with the lesson through technology. Moreover, technology can place teachers in a better position to customize learning for students with special needs.

What is the relationship between technology in education and pedagogy?

Research has illustrated that many educators have had a hard time integrating technology into education. This may be because many educators have yet to explore the relationship between technology and pedagogy. Doing so could play a huge part in encouraging critical thinking by teachers as they attempt to integrate technology into education.
At the same time, for technology to work effectively, it should only be incorporated in classroom if it is appropriate for a given instructional task. Also, technology can only be an effective teaching tool if teachers participate in decisions to adopt technology. This is because teachers have the responsibility of facilitating instruction and incorporating technology at the classroom level, yet many school administrators tend to make decisions related to technology adoption/training without consulting teachers.How technology can be used to improve learning The following are ways that technology could be better leveraged to improve learning:  

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  With the widespread availability of student databases that are able to track individual progress, teachers are encouraged to identify learning objectives and differentiate instruction based on the needs of their students.
  
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  Whenever teachers attempt to present instruction using technology, they should do so using a channel that is relevant to the objectives, the learning style, mode and the technology selected.When evaluating technology-based instruction, there needs to be appropriate evaluation techniques that are in line with the methods of instruction, objectives and the technology.Teachers can design follow-up activities when using technology to evaluate students’ learning and the role technology played in that process.Overall, technology is central to many sectors of society and its integration into the education process has great promise for student learning. With technology, one can expect increased efficiency and effectiveness on both the part of teachers and students. Technology can also prompt pedagogical change and address issues that affect learning, teaching and social organization. Technology can therefore be seen as both a tool and a catalyst for change. Students should embrace technology for them to benefit and teachers should be open to introducing technology into the classroom to improve and innovate their teaching practice. According to a Gallup report entitled “Education Technology Use in Schools,” about 65% of respondents reported that they use digital learning tools to teach on a daily basis. The rapid advancement of technology in education cannot go unnoticed as it is occurring around the world.Across industries, technology is reshaping how institutions and businesses operate. Technology has proven beneficial and transformation in educational settings in particular. From online colleges to digital certificate programs and hybrid set-ups, technology is reshaping the world of education.Here’s a look at how technology has changed education for the better.Education technology, also known as EdTech, is the use of IT tools in the classroom to develop an engaging and personalized learning experience. Beyond the use of computers, students and teachers can utilize interactive platforms, IoT devices, and even analytical software to better gauge students’ progress using data in real-time.Learning has never been a one-size-fits-all endeavour, and with education technology, teachers can better serve students’ individualized needs.The benefits of technology and education are far-reaching and growing with each day.Let’s take a look at some of the upsides of how technology impacts education positively:Technology like the internet and the ability to record lectures, upload learning resources to a platform, and host discussion forums makes it possible to expand one’s access and availability to learn. For example, at the University of the People, students can earn their degrees entirely online through the use of an online learning management system (LMS) called Moodle. Students used to have to be physically located inside a classroom to obtain their education. These days, with online learning (by choice or by circumstance) has led to a revolution in education that makes it accessible to anyone, anywhere. With EdTech platforms, students and teachers can report and review progress based on each individual’s performance.