“The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it’s part of everyday life.” -Bill Gates
Technology plays a major and important role in our daily lives. It is no wonder that technology has also affected the education industry in many ways. From classes going digital to writing online exams, there are many areas in education where we can not go forward without using technology, especially in the time of the pandemic. The pandemic has shown people how easily can technology can be used for the betterment of children’s education and better teaching techniques both offline and online. The world is rapidly becoming more and more technology-dependent and a high number of jobs are being created in the research and development industry for technological advancements.
Many teachers and instructors may be against the idea of integrating technology into education because they didn’t need it while they were in high school. While it is true they didn’t need technology to learn, the technological advancements of the previous generation were so little that their daily lives were not affected without technology. It is not the case today, whether people accept it or not technology has an important role to play not only in our lives but in the approach and progress of education of the youth too.
Technology has made it possible for people all over the world to get a quality education. Someone in central Africa can access courses from top universities in the U.S.A or the UK or any other part of the world by sitting at home. Technology has made the world a smaller place and education free and accessible to anyone who has an internet connection. By completing courses at the said universities, students can also get certifications that will be very valuable while getting a job. Students from all over the world can collaborate on different projects and share their knowledge. Students can even contact real scientists and get their doubts clarified with technology. A busy scientist who is far away can give guest lectures online and educate the future of the world.
Technology began to change the roles of teachers and students alike. Teachers used to be the primary source of information for students and students simply absorbed whatever information was conveyed by the teachers. With the advancement of technology, the role of the teacher shifted from the primary source of information to a guide who will show you a path you can follow(kind of like dumbledore). Students have become more independent when it comes to consuming knowledge and they make the most use of technology to gain the knowledge and the skills required for a better present and future. Due to this shift, schools and colleges across the globe are redesigning their education curriculum so that technology can be a bigger part of the kids’ education.
Technology is also transforming how teachers approach teaching. With the abundant information available online, teachers can easily prepare assignments and assign projects that can improve the students’ understanding of the subject through self-exploration and experimentation. With the help of the internet and technology, we have combined all the human knowledge and made it accessible to everyone. The teaching and examining techniques are shifting from providing education where kids need to remember things to pass the tests to a more of an explorative approach where kids have to think of something other than just mugging up the textbooks to pass the exams.
Nowadays, students use different software and PowerPoint to make presentations, make their projects and interact with their classmates. All the things that were done using pen and paper can now be done using technology and this has made student life easy, more educational and time-saving. Every study material and e-book a student requires is readily available on the internet and carrying a tablet or an iPad is way lighter than carrying a backpack full of heavy books.
Technology is also transforming the classroom environment with the digitization of classrooms. Digital classrooms have a digital blackboard, interactive sessions with teachers and classmates and the availability of the entire syllabus online has provided students with the opportunity of choosing their own path out of interest and not because of peer pressure or societal pressure.
Teaching and education have become a collaborative effort from people all across the world. Online libraries with literally any book you want, online lectures from world-class teachers and universities for free, online forums where bright minds come together and discuss science, politics, technology, mathematics and much more. All of these things were made possible because of the advance in technology today. The availability of resources and lectures online has eliminated the location and time limitation altogether. There are universities that even offer degree courses that are completely online and time flexible.
Technology has become such an important part of our lives that it is almost impossible to think of a life without it. The ever-growing and fast-changing world of technology today has become a boon for almost every industry in the world and the education industry is not far off. Students can achieve things that were only dreams for them with the use of technology. There are many online platforms that offer courses in various subjects too.
Blix is also an online learning platform for kids from ages 5 to 17. Blix teaches robotics for kids and provides a robotics kit with its courses too so that your kid can have some time off the screen and focus on the real world. The instructors at Blix are friendly, are well versed in their field of teaching and they can make sure your kid has fun while learning about robotics.
