10 Ways that Edtech is Transforming Education
Technology has greatly impacted the way we do things—from how we shop for basic necessities to how we conduct business with people around the world. It’s no wonder that technology has altered education, too. In fact, here are 10 ways that edtech has changed education.
Communication
Through email and text messages, teachers communicate with parents and students faster and easier. Teachers can send out homework reminders, progress reports, and assignments with the touch of a button. The increased level of communication helps parents stay informed about their children’s schooling and students stay informed on what assignments are due.
Differentiated Instruction
Teachers need to figure out how to serve students on multiple levels of understanding. Differentiated instruction is difficult and time-consuming. However, it’s necessary to challenge advanced students and aid struggling ones. Edtech assists with differentiated instruction through software programs and mobile applications. Many of these programs have multiple levels to help cater to each student’s needs.
Classroom Inclusion
Speaking of serving each student, teachers must meet the needs of students with IEPs. When students with learning disabilities spend time in a mainstream class, teachers need to figure out how to include them in the lesson. How can they do this? Through technology. For example, if it’s difficult for students to listen to lectures, they can watch a video or play a learning game that can teach them the information. If a student has a hard time writing on their own, they can use technology to record their notes. Technology opens up a wide range of options for accommodations that teachers can utilize in their lessons.
Interactive Lessons
One of the best ways to prevent classroom management issues is through creating engaging activities. Technology unlocks a wide range of interactive possibilities. Tablets, laptops, and computers in the classroom are just the beginning. Higher education institutions also use robotics, 3D printing, virtual reality, and wearable technology. As these and other advances become more readily available, elementary and secondary schools will have access to new technology that can make lessons more interactive and engaging for students.
Connectivity
Before the Internet and email, students wrote letters to pen pals from around the world. Then, they waited weeks or months to hear back from them. Now, students email their pen pals and connect with them on social media sites. Better yet, they talk to them face-to-face through programs like Skype and Google Chat. This can be a great way to open students’ eyes to other cultures and ideas.
Video Streaming
Videos make ideas come alive. It’s one thing to teach students about how a volcano erupts, but it’s better to show them a volcano erupting. With YouTube, TED Talks, and other online resources, there are thousands of videos available to share. These videos enhance lessons and deepen students’ understanding.
Collaboration
Through the Internet, teachers and students can connect more than ever before. Websites like Teachers Pay Teachers even allow teachers to share their ideas, lesson plans, worksheets, and more with one another. With the amount of resources available, it’s unnecessary for teachers to spend as much time creating new material to use in the classroom. Then, teachers can spend more time on continuing education opportunities, which are also available online.
Distance Learning
No longer do students need to ever set foot on campus to receive their education. Through technology, students can take classes anywhere with an Internet connection. This is true for elementary school students through college students. They can even attend an online high school with instructors or collaborate with classmates from around the world.
Resource Accessibility
Technology offers electronic books, mobile applications, and lots of other resources that schools can purchase at a lower cost. Schools have greater flexibility in the resources they choose, and they can easily update them throughout the years, as needed.
Student Motivation
Students are growing up with the need for instant gratification. They want immediate results, which technology can provide. As an added bonus, learning and mastering technology can also build students’ self-esteem.
Education technology is constantly evolving and we need to be able to evolve with it.
Remote login to school libraries, teleconferences, and online forums are part of the success stories of the internet age. technology has transformed many lives especially students who are huge beneficiaries of this system.
By far the best summary I have read in a while on EdTEch’s positive impact…kudos Matthew. Another good one came from Ruben Puentedura.
I suspect many that read this list also realize the BIG challenge is getting to the benefits to scale….there are lots of great teachers doing these amazing things…but they are the minority…it is important we acknowledge that then create the conditions where even more teachers can flourish. More about this here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sf-IyArhpM
Dr. Lynch has indeed highlighted how education has been transformed this past decade, if not longer.
I also sense that there are two additional trends that have changed the educational landscape, often via informal or at home learning opportunities.
1 — the ease we have in creating apps and how teens and young adults are eager to learn coding, we are starting to see truly differentiated learning tools or scenarios — especially if they are designed for more extensive or deeper thought or skill development and application.
2 — the proliferation of portable devices with touch screens and parents’ (often misguided) overdependence on these devices engaging their young children (instead of speaking and interacting with them or with each other). our youngest learners expect and are content to explore and use apps for multiple purposes, sometimes with a loss of other skills and knowledge that are just or more important.
Positive impacts of technology and digitized realms of our lives are determined and supported by mindful or intentional use of such devices and apps. There are many articles and ideas percolating and shared as to what traits and which circumstances support learning. Even pediatricians have recently been asked to remind parents of the limitations, traits and circumstances for technology use that aligns with healthy child development.
Once parents and educators work together to define circumstances for technology use, digital technology’s positive impact will be more noticeable to more of us.