Ilova 1 - HANDOUT 2

1. Read the information and complete the table below indicating the benefits and drawbacks of various types of technology in education.

The preference for digital learning is surging. Yet, the topic remains debatable. Some people also believe that there are definite disadvantages of technology in education.

Let us look at the pros and cons of using digital technology in the education sector and understand accordingly.

Advantages of Technology in Education:

Education is the gateway to every opportunity one is willing to seek. There have been so many modifications in the education system according to the need.

In modern times, technological advancements have proven to be very beneficial for teachers and students.

Children have learned new ways of learning that have helped them grow better in academics. The usage of technology becomes cumulative over time.

Here are some of the pointers that prove how advantageous the use of digital technology can be.

Self-Sustaining:

By inducing technology in schools, students become diligent in their work. The use of technology will help students in being independent for most of the work.

Students seeking secondary education will sustain themselves on their own. Using computers in schools or projectors will help them learn better.

Streamlined Mode of Learning:

There is no doubt that school teaching has become simple and effective. Earlier, there was no room for custom learning education.

Today, with the help of digital technology, the learning methodology has been modified. Gadgets and modern infrastructure have changed the course of learning. One can access information based on their need and preference.

Easy Access to Information:

Information is everywhere and easily accessible. Technology makes the process of learning simpler.

The teaching process has become more accessible by using computers in schools or cloud computing technology through which teachers and students access any information related to any subject.

Affordable and Engaging:

Apart from secondary education, elementary education has also induced digital technology for smooth learning for students from a young age.

To engage with teachers, elementary school students are provided with digital tablets or computers and learn better.

Also, students can connect with teachers from anywhere in the world. With the discovery of virtual reality and augmented reality, the advantages of technology in education have only improvised.

Disadvantages of Technology in Education:

So far, we looked upon the advantages of technology in the field of education. The digital world has evolved and has given the platform to perform hassle-free.

Nevertheless, it is important to know the disadvantages of technology in education as well. Here are a few disadvantages listed.

Taking Less Effort:

Earlier, students used to be practically engaged in schools. There were a lot of activities happening.

Students used to take more time and effort to complete homework or assignments. With information being just a click away on the internet, students do not make an effort to study. The engagement is lesser compared to when there is no use of technology in classrooms.

Lowering Practical Skills and Knowledge:

Schools may provide students with the best digital technology to learn in their comfort zone, but engaging more with digital gadgets may decrease their practical skills.

Students may tend to focus on screens rather than engage with other peers or show interest in socializing. Student life in elementary education has become sedentary due to technology.

Lack of Practical Guidance:

The relationship between students and teachers must be healthy. A teacher’s practical guidance will nurture the child in improving their academic and overall performance in school.

Ever since digital technology has taken over schools, the engagement between students and teachers has gradually decreased. Due to this, they lack practical guidance in academics and other activities.

Leading to Misinformation:

Daily use of technology in school as a substitute for practical learning may lead to access misinformation.

Students using computers in schools or engaging with social media may have a biased opinion about anything. The elementary education system should not make constant use of digital technology.

Advantages + smart technologies	Disadvantages - smart technologies

What is digital transformation in education?

Advantages of digital transformation in education

Tracking of student results

One impact of digital transformation on education is that it provides a more realistic way of monitoring the success of students. In recording the information in the work of students, technology can play an important role that lets teachers and parents track their development. For example, manuals or creative work may be compared at intervals to material that is already digitally recorded, which leads to a clearer understanding of who betters and needs attention.

Improved results with data analytics

Schools may use analytics to monitor and enhance results. The students can better understand what individual children and schools need by reviewing the information gained by the use of technology in the teaching room. The more clearly you can understand how a student missed a term, the easier the course can be taken. Technology will help us diagnose these shortcomings much more easily and reliably than teachers might do in a 30+ classroom.

Cooperative learning

Collaboration is forced by digital learning. Teachers can build and handle groups through learning platforms. Co-authors’ papers and presentations are made easier by collaborative creative environments such as Google Docs, Twiddla, Edmodo, etc. Such interactive instruments are already used in organizations, and why are teach students not competent before joining the staff?

Future-focused curriculums

Schools must teach potential curricula. Robots, artificial intelligence, automation – not sci-fiction films anymore. Overwhelming evidence suggests that the workforce needs are changing and continue to expand much in the future, but the organization is not prepared to completely educate them. It won’t take years to create and upgrade the curriculum changes. More access to appropriate and frequently updated content is available to students. The ability to quickly upgrade and function requires daily access to new material and functionality.

Enhanced synergies between parents and teachers

Research indicates that children do better at school and are much healthier in general when parents participate in the academic success of their children. Automation supplies progress notes, reports to parents electronically, and advises them to pay custody fees in due course.

You can also be relaxed regarding the safety of your child because any time you are missing or on your vacation, the children are informed and the school bus can still be tracked from anywhere. Imagine if the software would provide an efficient career guide solution by recommending career choices based on calculated metrics, based on student strengths and weaknesses.

Timesaving

Digitalization is a great saver in the world today where time is money. In addition to subway services, many cities have not completely integrated the transport infrastructure. To meet their educational institutions, students must go for hours. 

Digital training is a rescue for students from even the farthest parts of the country in this scenario. This model has been successfully applied across international boundaries by UNISA and GetSmarter. You just need to log into a website or turn to the dish-tv to learn a topic instead of spending long hours on the road.

The challenges of the digital transformation in education

Reticence to change

Actually, almost 70% of those employed in the public sector believe that their digital skills fall behind the private sector. Despite this, several main policymakers reject the next major steps towards digital maturity.

In essence, people prefer to get acquainted with what they do and reject to move out of their comfort zone to lead to slow growth and development. Many in education fear failure and are hesitant to learn new skills or processes if they adjust to new technology, culture or mentality.

Inferior knowledge or skills

An adequate level of trust, expertise and skills is important for driving innovation in the organization. Currently, UK employers are grappling with a growing digital capability deficit to fill 43 percent of STEM vacancies (Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics).

Education institutions must compete to reach a small pool of talent, or follow new approaches for upgrading emerging players in the UX and CX sectors through cloud infrastructure in order to ensure a smooth and efficient digital conversion.

Data silos

In this digitally rich age, numerous measurements provide insights into future learners, internal efficiencies, user experiences and much more from schools, universities, and trainers. In short, it is an invaluable level of detail.

The problem is that these data are smooth, sometimes inaccurate and unreliable, particularly in the education sector. Education leaders should make educated forecasts, integrated business decisions and take new educational measures to understand the most useful and informative data, in order to be able to receive flowing, prompt, accurate and structured data.

Lack of instructions or strategy

One of the key roadblocks to progress is knowing where to proceed with digital transformation in any sector or industry. Because the prospect of mass change can be overwhelming, it can be difficult to understand which path to take or how to build a solid strategy.

System-based compatibility

In the world of today, most companies and organizations depend on systems and infrastructures that are technologically oriented, ensuring a smooth and successful operation every day.

 

Advantages + smart technologies	Disadvantages - smart technologies

A major problem with digital transformation in education systems is not compliant with modern digital technologies to advance them. This incompatibility means that a current integration system must be upgraded, customized or replaced, which inevitably requires time and resources.