Entry nº 35: Technology in education

Education is a matter of great importance in every country, and so it must be appropriately carried out having in mind that its principal aims are to educate and form the future leaders of a nation. When technology is applied in education in order to improve it, the possible effects must be carefully analysed because it may become an asset or a drawback in the learning process.
The use of advanced technology such as videos, computers, internet and even video games have brought multiple benefits to the education process. Videos have long been used as a motivational tool to give lively illustrations of a certain topic, computers are time-saving devices which have multiple applications and, together with internet connection, they facilitate and broaden the information sources, to which students have access. In First World countries, such as the U.S. and the U.K., virtual classrooms have been created in order to help the participation of shy or disabled people. When participating in these virtual classrooms, the invonveniences of face to face interaction are avoided because both students and teachers can create their own 3D characters, with the appearance that they wish to have. Another advantage of this sort of technology is that people from every place in the world can join to the group. Vide games are also used in such countries as a tool of motivation to develop mental skills related to problem-solving activities.
On the other hand, technology may be nothing but a drawback in education. Technology-based learning devices, especially computers and the Internet, require the dedication of time to learn how to use them; a time that could be spent to accomplish the teacher’s ultimate educational objectives. Besides, these devices carry the risk of unespected technical problems. Furthermore, computers and videos are misused very often when teachers over-rely on them letting the students stay at their own in front of the screens, without the assistance that some could need. In the same way, videos and Internet resources must be carefully selected in order to provide real interactive learning experiences and to avoid the wasting of useful time. Some types of learning occur best during face-to-face encounters between teacher and students and between students themselves; in this way the teacher is able to recognise and correct subtle individual problems. Apart from that, the application of technological educational tools in Third World countries like Argentina can be a disadvantage if introduced in institutions that lack the conditions for their installation and use.
Taking all these factors into consideration, technology in education can be an asset as well as a drawback depending on the use that it is given and on the context where it is applied. If properly and judicially used, technology is a supplement in the learning proces, helping teachers to focus their attention on the individual needs of each student.