Freedom of Education

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Technology has already begun to pull the chariot of education. It already took up the responsibility of enriching education making it to reach newer heights of brighter possibilities. It is expected that education will be able to reach its paramount position with technology by its side.

The technology infrastructure

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The advent of technology and its implementation in education making it effective is responsible for the schools to seek ways to implement technology in them. But the requirements of such implementation has also been the subject to change. The change occurred in finding normal connectivity options to gaining bandwidth connections that allows the operation of more complex applications.

The research

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A lot of research is done on the exact quality and effectiveness that technological education offers. Yet it is found that the companies representing the technological education itself are responsible to conduct the researches. Such a thing doubts the validity and the objectivity of the research. Apart from that, these kinds of researches are time consuming and cannot keep up with the contrary fast pace of the developing technological implementations.

Now let us have a look on the process of technology's implementation on education:

E-learning or digital learning

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E-learning is the interestingly effective platform of education in the virtual arena. The e-learning methodologies are different as well as interesting. It effectively offers the required education for a learner. Added to that, there are some technologically advanced tools which makes it more enriched.

Virtual schools or online schools has originated from the concept of e-learning and, expectedly, the modern learners are on the lookout for them.

What are the reasons of such an inclination of the learners? Let's take a look:

1. It is observed that the learning style is different and efficient when it comes to e-learning and the learners finds it interesting and beneficial.

2.E-learning is flexible in nature. It offers the flexible classes in which the learners can proceed according to their own pace.

3.It is a lot more student-friendly way of education than the traditional one as it allows access to customised educational contents.

4.Online instructors and quality faculty members can be reached in e-learning through video lectures.

5.Distance learning schools are cost-effective.

6.E-learning also represents credit recovery in which a learner can retake classes that he/ she did not pass in a different way.

The International Association for K-12 online learning or INACOL said in a report entitled “A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning” that at the end of 2010, 27 states and the district of Columbia had full-time online schools serving students across the state.

Mobile computing shows game-based learning

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The increasing use of the mobile devices and their falling costs paved the way for education to meet games for making a revolutionary educational tool as the game-based learning. According to the educators, game based learning has the ability to visualise the path of career to the students and they can get a more prominent realisation of profession. It builds the sense of collaboration; team-work; problem solving and decision making abilities.

The National Science Foundation has cooperated a lot to provide web-based science games like Crystal Island which is developed by IntelliMedia group at the North Carolina University.

The Horizon report predicts that mainstream classrooms will adopt the use of games in education by two to three years.

Interactive social networking

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Interactive social networking is an effective way of education in the distance learning schools as it makes the learners more enthusiastic in education. A collaborative and coordinating mentality grows in them. Teachers also are in favour of it as it allows the learners to communicate with their peers all over the world.

Some of the schools have already implemented social networking tools like Facebook in education.

The social networking site Ning has group sites centred around teaching a specific subject.

Twitter provides an interesting educational tool known as the EdChat. It is a one-hour conversation per week on pre-arranged topics.

Web 2.0 and similar technological tools are aiming to make digital portions of the students' work with a more increased pace and easier availability.

The Verdict :Education and Technology join hands

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It is clearly observed that a lot of beneficial elements are attached with education by e-learning. Technology has provided education a new platform where it is more varied and more enriched. This enriched education increases the total enrichment of all of the aspects of the society and this simultaneous process has been possible with the equal collaboration of education and technology.

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While browsing the internet , I recently came across an interview of a Biology teacher, Miss Heidi Bernasconi from Clarkstown High School North. In an exclusive interview with "The Journal" she describes how the introduction of Google Apps in her school, has modified the whole scenario of learning. I would love to share her experience.

Here are a few advantages she enlisted why every school should use online apps for the overall development of their students.

When asked what can the Classroom app do that the desktop version cannot ?

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On her reply, she first pointed out the mobility factor. That means the students now have 24x7 hours access to their learning programmes and assessments. So whenever they feel they can access it just at the click of a button. All they need is a phone and a stable internet connection. Even due to any reasons the school systems are not available, students should not lag behind in completing their assessments.

The modern apps give you the facilities to upload multimedia files. So if the students find it necessary to share any video or images of their current assignments , they are free to do that and even ask for feedback if required. In this way they can stay connected with their class mates as well as instructors and seek suggestions whenever required. Study not only becomes technology advanced but at the same time fun and interesting.

On a fun part she even mentioned , that gone are those snow days when you stay indoors with nothing to do constructive. She remains connected to her students even when she is held back at home.

Grading System :

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The apps are so simple and systematic to use . Grading the assessments are now easy and faster than the usual. Heidi completed a file of assessments just within an hour while waiting for her doctor's appointment.

Notification of the educational app :

As per her experience, the app has amazing notification system. The App is so developed that as soon as the teacher completes grading the assignments, a notification is triggered to every student and he/she has to reply or give a feedback on those assignments. Same goes for the teachers when a new task is assigned and the student completes it and submit the file, a notification is triggered for the teachers. Push notification feature even add a whole new dimension and makes the app unique.

Students' Performance :

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Quote unquote , it was too early to decide whether the implication of the apps into the education system has truely been imperative. But three thing scan be concluded from it. Here are they listed below :

1. The app has made life much easier and simple.

2. Instead of searching the roster of the students and tallying who has submitted their assignments, a single feature tells you who all are present in the classroom and have submitted their tasks. Its just a matter of few seconds.

3. The Google apps or the desktop version provides 24x7 hours of internet at your pocket. So whenever the students or the teachers want can access the assignments . This add an extra advantage to those who might not be able to attend school due to medical issues or, are on vacations.

Future improvements :

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The app is in itself a life saviour for both the students and the teachers. But here are few suggestion that might go along well with this app :

1. The reminder feature should be added . Any particular test or project submission will get a constant reminder to the students. This will make the students more conscious and serious to complete their tasks in a given period of time amidst their other activities.

2. The networking should not remain within the boundaries of the school. The app should able to connect different schools of the cities , thereby increasing the boundary of reach.

Heidi loves the fast grading system on her phone and the simplifies access, but that been said , the ease of using a big screen and expandable writing space on the keyword to minimise errors cannot be neglected.

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