How technology has changed the way we learn

There is no doubt that over the years, technology has changed learning and teaching processes and has transformed education as a whole. If you would have said to my Father that chalk boards will one day be replaced with interactive white boards that you can play videos from and make presentations with then he would have a) found it unbelievable, and b) he would be envious of what future generations have for learning. Students are fortunate nowadays that such amazing technologies and IT resources are now available to them. Teachers are also given the chance to use technology to enhance their lessons and to make preparing lessons less time-consuming. The door-way into the digital world has changed the way students and teachers learn. I would not have even believed that I would have used my mobile phone to participate in a class quiz, but through socrative I did. Gone are the days of spending endless hours writing notes down with the dull ache in your arm, now, typing-up documents is the quickest and securest way of getting essays and notes written- (hence the name of my bog: To pen to paper to blog)

I was reading an interesting article by Dr. Katherine McKnight, where she discusses how technology has changed the way we learn. She noted the top twelves way IT has changed learning, but I like to discuss in greater detail thwo of the points McKnight touched upon:

1. Communication Evolution- starting teaching English classes, I have definitely noticed the difference in communication. Students have told me how the way they text does have an influence on the way they write. This has had a negative effect on some students’ way of writing, as they are used to shortening words or writing sentences in ‘text talk.’  I have had students also say that they rely on auto spell-check on Microsoft word, however, there is the option of removing auto spell-check and Microsoft word does also offer a dictionary and thesaurus. This is a positive feature, but I still stand by the fact that a book-form dictionary and thesaurus is more effective resource to use as it offers more choice. Students communicate in many different modalities as a result of technology. It is up to educators to take the good with the bad ways in which technology has changed learning, and in some aspects there are resources that still outweigh technological ones. Technology has given the ‘old dog’ of education, ‘new tricks’ to use and display.
2. Rise of Web-Based Research- information can be assessed through the click of a button. In an instant, the internet can feed you information on a wide-range of topic wherever you are sat. You no longer need to go to a library and spend hours finding a book, in fact you do not even have to physically hold in your hands the information you are reading.  Computers in libraries are like having a library within a library. What one computer holds, or what one mobile phone holds can educate you in minutes. I agree with McKnight’s argument that because it takes less time to find information, we spend more time digesting, thinking, and learning about new information.

As teachers we are facilitating learning, therefore technology should not be ignored or feared. It is important we use it as part of our role as educators. As Geoff Petty states:

                At work, most of your students will swim in an environment dominated by word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and email and Internet searches. If you don’t prepare your learners by showing them how to make natural use of powerful tools, you are not preparing them for work. (Petty, p.391).

Therefore, technology is everywhere in our lives. Most jobs require employees to be computer literate and to be able to use Microsoft applications. Ensuring a successful future for students, teachers should make technology as seamless as possible within education. As Petty also states: ‘it is what students do that creates learning, not what technology does.’ Technology should not complicate learning, it should make it easier and more understandable.

References:

Geoff Petty, (2008), ‘Students learning with computers: e-learning, ICT and ILT,’ in Teaching Today: A practical guide, 4^th ed. (Cheltenham, Nelson Thorne: 2009), pp. 391-507, p.391.

Katherine McKnight, (2013) 'Top 12 ways technology changed learning', TeachHub.com. [Online] Available from: http://www.teachhub.com/how-technology-changed-learning [Accessed 15.01.15].