Why Educational Technology Should Be Implemented in Your Classroom

If the ongoing pandemic has proven anything, it is that modern technology sets the foundation for the innovation needed to navigate modern issues. While there are many repercussions stemming from the spread of COVID-19, one of the areas that will be most impacted in the coming months is education, with both children and adults being affected by the efforts to navigate this crisis. Implementing educational technology could vastly alter the course of your teaching capabilities and your students’ learning methods.

Technology should and will play an essential role in education as the world moves forward. Not only will students need to know how to use educational technology in order to thrive in their academic and professional careers, but they will most likely utilize it in the new educational environments brought on by COVID-19.

If you are an administrator further researching the role that technology will play in your institution, let’s review the potential advantages and disadvantages of integrating educational technology into the learning process and how you can get started in making the necessary changes.

Why Introduce Students to Technology? Advantages and Disadvantages

Technology is often viewed as relatively new due to its introduction and growth over just the past few decades. However, while technological advancements at the turn of the century may have not been easily integrated in the classroom, today’s tech can be easily leveraged for an improved learning experience.

The question for many administrators is not necessarily about which educational technology can be used but what the advantages and disadvantages of shifting from traditional learning methods to more modern practices are. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of making such a change and why you should turn our focus towards tech moving forward.

6 Advantages of Using Educational Technology in the Classroom

1. Provides Students With the Skills They Need to Navigate Today’s Digital World

Although some teachers and institutions may be hesitant to use technology in their curriculum, the truth is that the word we live in today is a digital one. As such, it is important that students learn how to use the technology they will rely on as they further their education and enter the workforce. By implementing educational technology in the classroom, you allow them to interact with the tools that will help them build their futures.

2. Connects Students With Real-Time, Accessible Information

The world around us is constantly undergoing change, but the information provided in textbooks is not actively being updated. The right educational technology allows students to access real-time information that can further build upon their current curriculum, something that would not be possible through the use of traditional teaching resources.

3. Automates Time-Consuming Processes for Teachers

Educational technology isn’t only beneficial for your students but for your staff as well. Through various programs, teachers will be able to grade assignments with ease, analyze where students may be struggling, and gain access to data and performance metrics that can improve the way students learn. This helps foster an improved learning environment that is beneficial for all.

4. Makes It Easier for Students and Teachers to Connect and Collaborate

In-classroom engagement is easy as it is now, but allowing students to connect and collaborate on projects together outside of the classroom can be difficult (especially if there is no classroom environment available). Educational technology breaks down barriers and allows teachers and students to connect seamlessly and collaborate on school projects with ease, no matter the setting.

5. Makes Learning More Fun and Engaging for All Students

Technology can be far more engaging for students than the traditional pen and paper. Whether this means utilizing certain learning programs or creating tests that include embedded media, for example, choosing to create a technology-based learning environment may just be the catalyst for better learning.

6. Eliminates Costs of Running a Traditional Classroom

Pens, paper, and other classroom supplies come out of the school’s budget (and sometimes the budget of individual teachers). While there is an initial investment in the technology being purchased, costs over time can be reduced by making the switch to digital learning and eliminating physical goods.

Disadvantages of Using Technology in the Classroom

1. Some Students May Become Distracted By Their Devices

The biggest concern that prevents administrators from creating a more tech-friendly learning environment is the belief that students may become more distracted. While this can be a concern, risks can be mitigated through the use of mobile device management programs that allow teachers to oversee the proper use of school-based devices.

2. Technology May Result in Decreased Socialization

Some educators worry that an increase in the use of educational technology will be accompanied by decreased opportunities for socialization. This can be another potential issue in the classroom, but the ability to limit how much time is spent online will allow you to create more opportunities for face-to-face interaction as your staff becomes more accustomed to these resources.

3. Not All Students Have Access to the Same Resources

Technology is readily available, but that does not mean that technology is readily accessible. Some students may not have the same access to technology at home as they do at school, which can be a major barrier in regards to advancing their education.

4. Students Spend a Significant Amount of Time in Front of a Screen

Issues caused by excessive exposure to blue light and technology are very real. As it is now, students receive only exposure to devices at home or those that they use during breaks. However, with the transition over to educational technology in the classroom means that they will be spending the majority of their day staring at devices in order to learn.

5. Both Teachers and Students Must Learn How to Use Programs and Devices

While technology can be fast and efficient, both students and teachers must become accustomed to it before they can reap these benefits. Training your staff and ensuring that your staff can train their students is often another area of concern for educators.

The most important question to ask yourself in regard to the above pros and cons is this: do any of the potential disadvantages outweigh the benefits that my staff and their students will gain? Most often, the answer is a resounding no. In fact, many of the above disadvantages can be circumvented with the right plan. But how are you supposed to navigate this integration successfully?

Introducing Educational Technology to the Classroom

The biggest focus that educators have when seeking to introduce technology to the classroom is making sure that the solutions allow them full control over the learning experience. Fortunately, there are excellent solutions out there that provide educators with the tools they need to control and enhance the digital learning experience, such as VISO TeacherView by Radix.

VISO TeacherView is an innovative classroom management solution that gives educators access to the tools they need to create an engaging, efficient distance learning experience in both in-person and remote learning environments. TeacherView grants you the ability to:

• Share your screen, video camera, and whiteboard with students as you lecture or collaborate with them.
• Engage with all students in real-time, virtually walking between each one as you teach.
• Allow students to virtually raise their hands, giving you the ability to provide them with discreet one-on-one assistance.
• Launch apps, media, and other programs for the entire class to provide a synchronized experience.
• Remotely control devices and restrict access to certain apps or websites and monitor students’ screens.

With the support of a platform like TeacherView, your staff will be able to have full control over the learning experience, granting them the ability to navigate whatever may come both inside and outside the classroom. If you see the value in educational technology and want to begin making the transition in your institution, use the list above as an incentive to get started and learn more about solutions like for VISO TeacherView your educational needs.

Additional reference

How to Encourage STEM in Early Education seen here.