Technology has become an integral part of our world. From social media to robotics and from basic word processing to virtual reality, technology is playing an increasingly important role in just about every aspect of our lives.
Education is no exception. While traditional learning methods are just as relevant today as ever, the benefits of technology in the classroom are well documented.
Teachers can use technology to complement traditional approaches to education and enhance students’ classroom experiences.
Working with technology can allow students to gain valuable practice in solving complex problems. It can help make lessons more adaptable to individual needs, and open different avenues through which students can learn. Perhaps best of all, technology can make learning more fun.
Educators are well aware of the need to arm students with the ability to understand and apply technology to pursue further education, enter the workforce and potentially become the next generation of leaders.
In a competitive environment, schools offering quality programs that successfully prepare students for a high-tech future will be the ones to attract the most applications. Those that lag behind may face dwindling enrolments.
One challenge for schools is to ensure the technology introduced into classrooms is the right fit for the educational content, the teachers, and importantly, the students. Technology should support learning outcomes without acting as a distraction, a very fine line to walk given how much technology is available.