Millennials grew in a world where technology is accessible to most of the people and commonly used in everyday life.
Computers and smart devices are parts of modern social relationships, business, and entertainment so is it time the schools get their technological upgrade? In this article, we are going to examine a few pros and cons to technology in the classroom.
Pros
Improved teacher productivity
Software solutions that allow automated test revisions, classroom attendance management, and other daunting tasks that take away the time teachers could spend working with children.
Help with writing
Internet access gives students the chance to find online services like AussieWritings or similar agencies that could proofread their essays before the students turn the work over to the teacher. The kids could dedicate more time to writing and less proofreading by themselves.
Unlimited library
Finding resource materials during the class would be almost instantaneous with a Wi-Fi connection and laptop or even smartphone. Both teachers and students could benefit from this tech blessing.
Save the forests
Using laptops instead of regular notebooks is good for the environment as well. The less paper we waste away the more of our planet’s lungs will be spared. According to studies, average American throws away almost 680 pounds of paper every year. Technology can make a difference in our struggle for a cleaner planet.
Files management
Google Drive or similar software provides a place to store presentations, spreadsheets, and many other documents. Moreover, with this type of cloud storage solutions teachers and students could access the files at the same time on different devices.
Cons
Promotion of inequality
Introducing technology in schools would potentially form a gap between the rich kids and those that come from families with lower income.
Some kids would be able to afford premium software and have an advantage over others; their hardware could be superior to the rest of the class, etc. In addition, what would happen to the kids that can’t afford to buy tech equipment needed for the class?
Even more screen time
Research indicates that today’s children of ages 8 to 12 spend around 6 hours a day in front of the screen. Adding more screen time to an already substantial amount would raise a lot of health concerns.
Teacher training costs
Adequate use of technology is imperative if the children are to benefit from technology. Not all teachers are tech-savvy and capable of using a computer for educational purposes. The cost of training an entire generation of teachers would probably provoke a lot of public debate.
Distractions
Imagine having a 10-year-old kid in front of a computer and expect that kid to stay focused during the class. The first thought that appears in the head is “That kid is definitely going to play games on the computer.” Teachers should spend more time monitoring the student’s activity during the class.
Cheating would be easier
With a computer and a stable internet connection, it’s almost impossible to imagine what a gifted kid could do. Cheating during the tests would be much easier with the help of technology. Not to mention security threats in case the school is on a joined network.
Conclusion
We are using the same methods of learning as our grandparents even though we have access to all this technology and innovations. It’s about time classrooms received an upgrade and become a part of the modern world.
Author Biography:
Lilian Chifley finished her master degree in Information technologies in 2014 and has been working as an IT teacher in Sydney, Australia for 4 years. She is an expert writer in such topics, as modern education, marketing, self-development, and blogging. Feel free to message her on Facebook.
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