five ways technology have changed education

5 Ways Technology Has Changed Education

New technologies —everything from smart boards to smart phones— have transformed education from both the student and instructor perspectives. These powerful tools have enhanced communication, research, literacy, etc…and continue to impact the way students learn. As students continue to rely upon technology, their mastery of these tools becomes evident even at early ages allowing them to build the technical experience they will need when they enter the work world. The following five examples are just a few of the ways technology has changed education for the better.

Learn at Home

Technology has helped create an entirely new educational platform and industry: distance learning. Older students and college bound students can now earn complete degrees online without having to travel to traditional classrooms. Students can learn from instructors who reside in different parts of the country over the e-learning platforms. They can connect to virtual classrooms through video conferencing and they connect with other students or the instructor using their smartphones or tablets any time they like. The convenience has made educational possible for many students who would not otherwise be able to fit school into their busy lifestyles filled with work or family obligations.

Share Ideas

Both students and teachers can use their mobile devices or desktops to share ideas. Students can collaborate on projects and teachers can lead discussions using text or Skype. Teachers can access teacher-sharing sites to contribute to forums where educational topics are discussed. They can search for lesson plans or even browse for classroom ideas on websites like Pinterest that has a big teacher following.

Research

Having digital access to databases various smart phones or laptops means that students can conveniently search for the information they need to complete assignments or class projects. Students can easily support their research papers with relative information they find online. No longer must students wade through card catalogs or stacks of books; much of the information they will need can be called up by using an educational database or an academic search engine.

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