Technology and Education: The Revolution

The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) defined educational technology as "the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources”.

We have become highly dependent on technology these days that we hardly stop to wonder what kind of impact it is bearing on us or if it has just become habitual process to us, ignoring the overall impact it has on us.

In education, one often wonders if technology really has a positive impact and has caused it to improve or if we just go with the trend of these tools being used to enhance education. This has been a debatable topic for years amongst educationist, students and the society as a whole. Many researches have been carried out to answer the question on if technology affects the performance of a students in a technologically enhanced studying environment as compared to those without one.

No doubt, technology has brought about a revolution in education. It is a known fact that when technological tools are properly integrated with studies, the students tend to improve in their achievements and have new opportunities to learn. This in essence means that technology is not the problem but how it is used.

Modernised education through the aid of technology has however enhanced a strong relationship between students and teachers as it enables a more meaningful and fun teaching and learning experience. Students can have access to great resources without spending so much on hard copies of text books and collaborate more with their peers to create and execute brilliant ideas in their various fields of interests.

Our educational system has been greatly overhauled due to this growing and advancing technology which has more positives compared to the negatives. These two, technology and education when combined for the right reason are a powerful tool to intellectual growth.
Some of the main benefits of using technology for studies and the ways in which it improves education include;

• It improves engagement
Both students and teachers can engage with their colleagues from around the globe to dialogue better on certain topics and help meet their shortcomings.

• It encourages individual research and learning
Due to the immediate access to a wealth of quality information and educational materials, it creates a yearning to know more and encourages individual research and learning.

• It enhances collaboration
It encourages collaboration between students to achieving certain goals and refining the students work.

• Teachers are better able to research better and faster as they have a wealth of information at the tap of their mobiles

• Technology enhances more fun ways of learning which enhances knowledge retention
• Online learning opportunities
Due to the accreditation of online education, students can work better at their own pace.

Once education embraced technology, there have been significant improvements as seen over the past few years of technological advancements in education. Technology has a crucial role in education and right now, we have moved past the point of asking its importance to questioning how to thoughtfully craft it into education to enhance learning and create more achievements.