Looking back 20 years ago, when the Internet is not widely used, lessons were given in a class and materials used were blackboards, chalks, flash cards or handouts.
Today, with the advent of technology, lectures can be done in various ways. Technology aided lectures, however, is a double edged sword.
On the one hand, using technology during lesson provides some benefits. The following are some of the advantages of technology in education:
- Technology can stimulate students’ enthusiasm for learning. Audio-visual instructional materials can better present ideas. For example, in Biology, instead of just using diagrams to illustrate mitosis, instructors nowadays use videos to properly explain the process. Students can understand it better because they can actually see how it happens.
- Technology can make lessons much more interesting. This is widely applicable to children who have short attention span. Using technology can easily catch their attention as there are various educational materials now that teachers can use. For instance, teachers can let children watch nursery rhymes with actions instead of just teaching them how to sing those songs
- Students can do research using online resources. Undeniably, the only way to research before is through books in the library and sometimes, the books are not available because some have already borrowed it. With technology, students can now access information in the Internet. They no longer have to go to the library and worry about the time it will close or if the book is available or not. They can search different websites anytime.
- Adults can take distance learning courses. This is now becoming popular nowadays. Working adults or stay-home parents can have the opportunity to learn without leaving their homes. Attending a class in a school is no longer necessary today as anyone can learn through online classes.
On the other hand, technology in education can also have some adverse effects:
- Too much dependence on computers. If people are used to learning through computers, teachers will have difficulties presenting lectures the traditional way. It is known that no technology is perfect. There are times that computers will have some errors during a lecture and when the teacher has no back up plans, the lesson has to be cut and time will be wasted fixing the computers.
- Inefficiency in some basic skills. Young learners are the common group who uses too much technology in learning. However, this also makes them unable to improve their handwriting or spelling skills.
- Technology is no substitute for a real teacher. Although there are unlimited information in the Internet, students still cannot effectively learn without teachers. The internet cannot directly and immediately answer their queries. Students still need a structured curriculum and teachers can provide this.
- Computers are not always reliable and the maintenance is costly. Compared to books, information from the Internet is sometimes deceptive and untrue. Also, computers need upgrade from time to time. Developers always innovate their products and some companies stop supporting some products after few versions are released. In addition, when a computer is broken, fixing it is not easy and requires a technician.