Some benefits of bringing technology into the classroom

While many educators still resist the idea of embracing technology as an integral part of classroom learning, many developments in the field are pointing to the huge benefits of going digital. 

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The prevalent argument against using technology is that it distracts students from the lessons and relegates teachers to the sidelines. Many schools restrict access to social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in the campus, the idea behind this being the maintenance of an academic atmosphere. However, this is increasingly becoming futile and counter-productive, as most students will have access to the internet via their own smart phones, anyway. 

Incorporating technology in lessons must not be treated as a form of succumbing. Educators would do well to intertwine the benefits of the digital age to straight lectures and analog testing. The aim is to allow for a complementary environment that’s also conducive to learning. Outside the school grounds, students are bombarded by information; there’s no need to pretend otherwise inside the academe and focus instead on the needed filtering. 

Teachers could mine available technology for learning purposes, as a form of active teaching. Students need not be passive receivers of data, but armed with the necessarily critical thinking skills to strain and select. This will eventually lead to self-directed learning and peer collaboration, as highfalutin concepts become clearer and the needed processing becomes more interactive, social, and teacher-guided. 

Finally, technology allows for the teachers themselves to continue down the path of learning. The internet is a treasure trove of innovative approaches and resources for modern pedagogy. Open-mindedness to these will allow for a two-way learning experience that will eventually make for a more adaptable educator. 

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Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch believes that education is key to building strong skills that are crucial to many aspects of life: personal values, business, social relationships. For more reads about the value of learning, check out this website.