With school back in full swing the conversation again turns to the role of technology in education. Questions abound regarding the impact of technology on curriculum developers and teacher readiness and if we will finally see the promise of improvement in student achievement.
Teaching methodologies of the past focused on rote learning and direct instruction. Educators today want to allocate their time to helping students understand and analyze concepts while providing skills for lifelong learning.
Each student learns differently. Technology provides an opportunity to recognize and accommodate unique learning styles on a case-by-case basis. With adaptive educational software, content is served up to each student based on their skill level and learning style. With built in assessments teachers are better able to monitor progress and adapt classroom time to ensure concepts are understood at the point of instruction.
Technology permeates all aspects of children’s lives. Toddlers are using iPads with little or no assistance and learning through a large collection of media. Our K-12 children download apps, play games, text, and even talk to Alexa and other digital assistants as part of their normal life. They live and breathe technology and can’t imagine the world of yesterday. Yet our schools are still barely scratching the surface of what is possible.
One reason may be that core content is just now beginning to take full advantage of all that tech has to offer. There are many good arguments for the delay, but time is of the essence. Innovative approaches to learning are happening and teachers are willing to embrace change to support their students. As technology hardware costs continue to improve and better tools become available, such as artificial intelligence and learning algorithms, educators will spend less time on tasks and more time assisting students with forming arguments, developing critical writing skills, and creating more interesting and compelling discussions.
By incorporating digital quizzes and assessments, videos, simulations, and gamification elements into course content, educators can create a dynamic learning experience for each student on an individual level. By capitalizing on the digital habits of students, the classroom becomes dynamic and interactive, regardless of the grade and or topic.
We should all be encouraged that the education technology market is growing rapidly with older established players—and many newcomers—making positive impact on student outcomes. But as exciting as the future of technology- enhanced education aspires to be, let’s not lose sight that all the digital curriculum and technology in the world will not replace a good teacher nor a learning environment that nurtures each child’s abilities.