Education is undoubtedly among the most essential assets one can possess. The world bank is the largest investor in the education sector in more than 80 countries globally. Education provides students with the skills and knowledge to identify and take advantage of opportunities in today’s ever-changing world.
However, as the times change, there is an increased desire to find new and innovative ways to provide students with the necessary tools to make the most of 21st-century opportunities. This can be achieved by adopting various technologies to aid learners n the learning environment.
Technology has impacted most aspects of our lives, including the education sector. According to expert-writers review, education technology can be defined as the process of integrating instructional materials and improving the learning environment to improve the quality of learning offered at a particular learning institution.
These improvements are applied as a measure of mitigating existing problems in the current learning environment with new and emerging technologies. The world bank supports global organizations and countries to facilitate timely research and the implementation of information and communication technologies into the learning environment.
The need to adopt innovative technologies was at an all-time high during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, introducing technology into the learning process has been a long and arduous process, mainly because of the high cost and time taken to adopt a new system.
Also, the levels of technology use in various learning institutions vary, causing a disparity in the quality of education offered. However, as is highlighted in news.saplinglearning.com, the impact of the COVID-19 pushed the implementation of technologies in learning institutions, most of which have been adopted for long-term use.
8 Positive Impact of Educational Technology
The use of digital technologies in education has taken off at an unprecedented rate. Today, a large percentage of teachers worldwide agree that the adoption of technology has increased students’ access to learning resources with ease. Here are a few more ways digital technologies have positively influenced education with that in mind.
- Immersive learning environment
Students today are more likely to enjoy learning in a more immersive learning environment. The experience involves using virtual reality learning techniques to facilitate experiencing real word problems.
- A platform for E-learning and long-distance education
Accessibility of learning opportunities for students in different locations is a welcome advantage, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to maintain social distancing. An excellent example is the adoption of video messaging applications such as Zoom and Skype for virtual classrooms.
- Access to a wide array of learning resources
Students today have smartphones and laptops, from which they can access the internet. The internet offers a gateway to tons of information on specific subjects and access to quality content from TopsWriting. In addition, students and teachers can collaborate on various tasks and share information online in real-time.
- Use of gamification
Games can change the learning experience into an enjoyable and relatable process for students. This type of learning explores the idea that students learn better when having fun. This involves incorporating elements of video games, such as visuals, stories, challenges, and rewards systems, into the learning environment.
- Personalized learning opportunities
Education technologies provide teachers with a platform that they can personalize to meet the needs of each student. Personalization is facilitated by the existence of various technologies that can be used to supplement learning on the go and with little investment.
- Student preferences
Students are already into technology, as is evident with the widespread use of smart devices, laptops, and personal computers. Therefore, learning institutions can take advantage of the availability of these devices to improve the learning experience. For instance, the use of instant messaging applications to reach students.
- Improved learner engagement
Technology helps improve learner involvement in the learning environment. Research shows that including blended learning styles backed by educational technology helps students stay focused and retain more information after class.
- Convenience
Implementing educational technology into the learning environment offers a lot of convenience for both the students and learning institutions. The use of technology in learning institutions helps cut down costs, better access to learning resources, and flexibility in the learning environment.
Understandably, the benefits of adopting technology in learning institutions contribute towards improving the learning environment. However, despite these benefits, before implementing technology in learning institutions, they should ensure it is best suited to their unique needs.
Also, the institutions should consider the cost and impact of the current learning environment. Therefore, institutions should consider developing tailor-made educational technologies that target their unique services and students’ needs.
