What is the Impact of Modern Technology on Learning?

Technology has significantly transformed every aspect of our lives and now it is changing the way we learn. Technology can enable teachers and students to develop an enhanced learning experience and improve the overall standards of education.

Although the unemployment rate of young graduates has been gradually degreasing since the last 5 years, but still the numbers are alarmingly high. However, employers are claiming that there is lack of well trained candidates with required skills to fill the entry-level vacancies in companies worldwide. This scenario has become a serious threat for both graduates and companies. It is only with the help of latest technology that we can create unique learning techniques and introduce new platforms so that our graduates are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge required for the workplace. Moreover it can also help those individuals who are already working to develop additional skills and advance their careers.

Making Education More Accessible

Technology has the ability to make education more accessible, affordable and understandable, especially for those who have been marginalised till now. Education was traditionally limited to classrooms and students had to attend classes physically. As result of this system, many individuals were automatically deprived from the opportunity to learn due to various challenges and other commitments.

But with the help of technology, education has come out of the classroom and has successfully shifted to the online platform. Thus it has now become more accessible as anyone can study from online contents via their tabs or Smartphones from any part of the world, as long as they have a reliable internet connection. Now those individuals who were previously deprived of learning opportunities can participate in various online learning programmes and build their future career.

Going the MOOC Way

Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCs is one of the prime examples of how technology has transformed education. As these academic programmes are free and require minimum qualifications, millions of students, including professionals, are now pursuing MOOCs to learn new skills and acquire knowledge relevant for their specific fields of employment.

Recently, Qualt, an online learning company, launched a free downloadable app through which learners can access vocational MOOC programmes via their smartphones. Another app named Maths Everywhere app, launched by adult education charity NIACE, received the ‘App of the Year’ award in the Prolific North Awards. This particular app enables adults to learn essential numeracy skills. Platforms like these offer a highly affordable, low-risk and flexible learning opportunity which learners can fit around their present lifestyle.

The Blended Approach

Apart from the online sphere, technology can also modify education inside the classroom. With the Blended Learning approach, teachers can successfully use advanced tools to make learning more interesting and engaging in schools, colleges and universities. These tools can also empower teachers to better organise and plan their tasks and track the progress of their students more effectively.

Technology for Teachers

It is imperative that teachers and educators accept technology as a part of their teaching process instead of being afraid of it. Technology cannot replace teachers, but it can help improve teaching. Thus teachers should be determined to make the most out of what latest technology has to offer. In order to actualise this, schools must train their teachers and staff so that they are comfortable with using advanced devices for the betterment of the students.

By using technology in the right way, we can undoubtedly improve education standards for every learner around the world. Educational institutes can offer an enhanced learning experience which caters to the unique needs of every learner. This will help in creating a well trained workforce that can meet the needs of the employers and successfully face challenges of the corporate world.

Education and the Scorching Pace of Change of Technology

The way that teaching or instruction is carried out has remained more or less unchanged over the decades and centuries. However the world around us has changed, in many aspects, for the better. This change has been revolutionary in the past few decades with the advent of the internet. Many functions of modern society is changing and that too in a trailblazing pace like transfer of money, our means and methods of communication, how we purchase products. However this sea change has not affected the education scenario for the better to the fullest extent made possible by the progress of technology. This is demonstrated by the fact that in America more Americans go to college than ever before. But the return from tuition payments that can easily reach $200,000 often simply does not make the cut. According to a report by Accenture up to half are unemployed or underemployed a year after graduation. And two-thirds say they need further training and instruction to enter the workforce.

Even the U.S. Lags Behind

With rising student debt the times has come for a thorough re-assessment of the entire educational system and facilitate innovation in this field in order to help students realize their full potential. A survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development puts even the U.S. in 31^st position in math achievement, 24^th in science and 21^st in reading among developed countries.

The Need For Change

Right from curriculum to mechanism of instruction the time has come for a sea change in education encompassing all of its sub-fields. In the traditional and present setting teachers take classes like lectures and then give students homework assignments to complete outside. Among the improvisations on this model is the innovative “flipped classroom” model. In this model educational materials like lectures and other video is meant for reception outside the classroom and practical oriented exercises are conducted in school where students have access to resources and guidance.

How Technology Can Change It All

However technology has provided us with the means to totally transform the educational scenario as it stands today with the prospects of online education. The combination of high-speed internet, educational videos and social media is a potent combination indeed. And universities like Harvard and Stanford and other prominent ones and investing in it in a big way.

Time for Change

Changes in the educational system lag far behind especially in the context of technological advancements. The present primary, secondary and higher education system adapts to and embraces changes all too slowly. Though often much effort has been put in on part of charter schools, teachers unions, school boards, activists and others they have often yielded little results. Technology possesses the potential of being the game changer in this era of a tech-saturated culture with youngsters willing to embrace technological advancements with open arms. And the policy makers and educators will have to keep in mind technological advancements for a dynamic educational system that is responsive to the changes in the world around it.