Education
Benefits of Formative Self-Assessment in Modern Education
What are the benefits of Formative Self-Assessment in Modern Education?
How Can Technology Enhance Education and Improve Student Outcomes?
How important is technology for educators? Does technology enable students to deepen their understanding of complex educational concepts? Today’s article will focus on the importance of technology in the education sector and discuss whether it improves student outcomes.
What Does the Research Say?
Research shows that technology companies that develop tools for educational institutions in the USA raised over $803 million in venture capital during the pandemic. According to PR News Wire, education technology is estimated to grow at 17% per year.
About 86% of educators believe in the incorporation and use of technology in classrooms. Likewise, ED Technology reports that 96% of teachers think that technology increases student engagement in the school.
According to Holo NIQ’s study, education expenditure on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) was $1.8 billion in 2018, which will reach a whopping $12.6 billion by 2025.
In addition, the use of technology in classrooms has increased three times in the last ten years. According to Forbes, 65% of teachers in the U.S use digital learning tools every day to facilitate learning in their classrooms, and about 87% of teachers and students use technology tools at least 3-4 days a week. About 7% of teachers and students don’t use technology at all.
About 63% of teachers believe technology can boost learning processes in classrooms. 75% of educators think that digital learning content will replace textbooks in the next ten years. Besides, 89% of students say that digital learning tools are practical and they use them at least 3-4 days a week in class.
Moreover, 95% of undergraduate students use technology, such as smartphones and laptops, for learning. A growing body of research evidence shows that augmented reality in the classroom leads to a deeper understanding of educational concepts, improving information retention levels, enhancing collaboration, and increasing students’ motivation levels.
Furthermore, 57% of educational institutions reported that educators have high workloads, and digital technology can reduce stress and burnout. Nearly 72% of teachers say that students are familiar with technology tools, meaning it is pretty easy to use them in the classroom, leading to improved engagement and learning.
Many educators resist including or using technology tools in classrooms because they fear digital tools or platforms may not improve student outcomes. However, this is a misconception.
Technology supports both teaching and learning. When teachers infuse the classroom with digital learning tools, such as computers, laptops, handheld devices, or VR they can expand their course offerings, learning materials and improve students’ experiences.
Digital technology supports learning 24/7, increases student engagement, and allows them to build skills required for employment in the 21st century. So, these technologies are a win-win situation for both educators and students.
Numerous research studies have proven the benefits of technology for teachers and students, and in the next section, we will discuss those advantages. So, there is no need to fear technology incorporation in the classroom environment.
The Positive Effects of Technology on Learning
Technology integration in education offers a wide range of benefits, such as increased student motivation, engagement, collaboration, hands-on learning opportunities, boosted confidence, and allows for teaching and learning at all levels.
Teachers and students interact with technology tools outside the learning environment, and having them in the classroom setting will improve their knowledge. Because every job requires skilled individuals, technology can bring informative resources in learning.
Increased Personalization
Educational institutions focus more on technology incorporation to support learning in the classroom. Practical tools, such as websites, applications, portals, and e-books, can positively impact students’ learning abilities, allowing them to study on their own.
In addition, digital materials support students in exploring new concepts relevant to their field of study. Internet is the ocean of resources and information, so teachers and students can benefit from online resources and use them to improve their knowledge from the comfort of their homes.
Students Prefer Digital Tools
Students prefer digital tools like computers, tablets, smartphones, and the internet for studies. Not only do they use digital devices at school or college, but they also use them at home to study different concepts and improve their knowledge.
Teachers say that laptops are effective for students as these are portable devices, allowing students to use them anywhere to search the information on the internet. Portability features of laptops and smartphones enable students to streamline communication and interaction with teachers and peers.
Digital technology, including cloud-based tools, allow students to customize their learning processes, leading to improve academic performance. Because students prefer technology for learning concepts thoroughly, they can efficiently complete their assignments.
Information Retention
Teachers and students believe that technology tools allow them to retain information and bring consistency in learning. For instance, visual elements, such as pictures, videos, and animations, enable students to remember more information than studying through textbooks.
For example, virtual reality in education increases knowledge areas and allows for active experiences for students. Not only does VR help students to understand complex theories, concepts, and subjects, but it also leads to fewer distractions.
Studies show that VR offers numerous applications in different disciplines, particularly in medical and engineering fields. According to the e-Learning Industry, VR is an advanced, cutting-edge technology that increases students’ learning abilities, allowing them to retain 90% of learned concepts.
Improved Classroom Management
Teachers play a crucial role in students’ learning and engagement. However, it is pretty challenging for educators to take care of every student’s needs due to high workloads. Classroom management is essential because it enables educators to focus on students’ learning and handle disruptive behaviors.
Handling this manually is a daunting and time-consuming task for teachers. On the other hand, technology allows teachers to implement practical solutions, leading to effective classroom management.
Remember, classroom management is one of the critical responsibilities of teachers. So, teachers can use different applications to manage students in the classroom, focus on their attendance, send them real-time notifications, and save time and effort.
Final Words
The incorporation of technology in education comes with benefits and downsides. However, the advantages quickly fade the downsides, allowing educational institutions to streamline their operations and improve teaching and learning environments.
Because technology changes from time to time, teachers and students must familiarize themselves with relevant tools and use updated platforms for enhanced learning. We think that blended education that focuses on traditional teaching methods and technology is a much better approach. Until Next Time!