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Introduction
In the last decade, the way students learn has changed drastically. Think back to a few years ago. Did you ever think laptops, desktops, smartboards, iPads, and other devices would play an essential role in the classroom? Did you ever think about having the opportunity to complete an education outside of the classroom? It is incredible how integrating technology has opened these opportunities for everyone who wants to succeed in school. One great example of how technology positively impacted education was during the COVID-19 pandemic. When schools had to close, educational technology emerged as a crucial tool to close that gap in learning outside of the classroom. As new technologies are being created, it is essential to keep learning new ways of adapting them to our daily lives. The education field is no exception. New technologies have been integrated to help students accomplish their learning goals.
What is educational technology?
It is important to understand the concept of educational technology as it can be easily confused with the term technology itself. According to the Video "What Is Educational Technology" posted by Udacity (2016), “Educational technology is any place where education and technology intersect, even if it occurs far away from the actual learning process.” Many people think of educational technology as software programs and devices used in school. This is not a wrong answer; however, educational technology means more than that. The article "Definitions of Educational Technology" presents different definitions. One of them is the one shared by Dr. Michael Spector. He states that ‘Educational Technology involves the disciplined application of knowledge for the purpose of improving learning, instruction and/or performance’ (Kurt, 2016). Educational technology is more than gadgets and applications. Instead, it is used to support teaching and learning.
Benefits of Integrating Education Technology In Education
Including all these new emerging technology tools in the student's education creates new possibilities for success. Personalized learning experiences and skills will be needed in the workforce as technology is integrated into today's society. With a good implementation, it becomes a valuable resource to use. According to Alexander Lim (2021), the benefits of using educational technology are as follows:
1. Educational technology offers a wider choice of materials that can be accessed easily.
2. It helps improve learners' communication skills and performance in school and work settings.
3. Provides a fun and engaging learning experience for learners.
4. It allows the learner to access the internet from anywhere at any time.
5. It helps learners learn a new skill and acquire new knowledge.
6. Allows students to improve themselves mentally and physically.
7. It helps learners stay up to date with new technological advancements.
These are some benefits of including educational technology in today's education. Just like it has great benefits, it also comes with responsibilities, but with the right balance, it is powerful to educate students.
Final thoughts
It is essential to keep learning about all these new technological advances and how they can make a difference in how students learn today. Undoubtedly, educational technology is bringing positive changes to the education field and will continue to evolve as more innovations emerge. Educational technology is reshaping how students learn and how teachers teach new concepts to them. By utilizing all these new tools and resources, students can access an education everyone deserves. As education embraces more innovations, the future looks more inclusive than ever. It is important to remember that technology is a tool that must be combined with traditional teaching methods. Technology is here to stay, but it will not replace teachers. Let us keep learning more about integrating technology into the classrooms and allow our students to prepare and succeed in today's society.
References
Kurt, S. (2017, February 21). Definitions of educational technology. Educational Technology.
Lim, A. (2021, September 20). Educational technology: How important is it in today’s education industry? eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/how- important-is-technology-in-todays-education-industry
Udacity. (2016, June 6). What is Educational Technology? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Bvrtknm_4
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