Is technology empowered enough to make a difference in the way we learn? Well, the question might still be debated upon, but it has not deterred the integration of technology in classrooms. Be it in the virtual world or the traditional setting, technology integration in learning has been the biggest trend in the educational sector. While, it is used in distance learning course carried over the web to design a flexible learning schedule, the influence in classrooms makes way for a better learning experience. Though, the debate tends to run over the question can technology bring a difference in the educational world, what tends to be overlooked is the question that which particular technologies can make the big difference in the learning prospects.
Well, the question that engulfs the minds of the educator pertaining to the integration of technology in education is - what is driving today’s educational institutes to initiate tech-based learning spending millions of dollars in this economy crunched time? The answer more often tends to be on the broader terms of improved grades, increased graduation rates, and flexible education. The usage of technology, especially in distance learning courses for more specific results is largely missing in the idea of tech-integrated learning. Though, technology is used to benefit the learners, the result tends to be opposing in most of the cases with stagnant test scores.
As the New York Times web article “In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores” points out the issue. The article brings to light the case of a U.S. school district that had put in an approximate amount of $33 million in integration technology in education. The school that initiated a learning that is said to promote advanced grades reportedly recorded a stagnating test scores in math and reading though it has improved in other schools of the state that does not rely upon tech-based learning. Well, though the report is clear to draw a common inference that technology does not improve educational experience and grades, it is only half-truth.
The educational sector need to realize that integration of technology in education is not intended to offer a magical revolution. Technology is nothing but a tool that holds the potential to enable a learner benefit through it, provided the implementation and planning of the usage is perfect. Using technology without any proper planning will never yield a positive result, be it for a traditional classroom setting, or distance learning courses. The fact that is often overlooked in the common perspective of integrating technology in education is how well the instructors are educated about the tech applications and their application in planning an educational change.
While answering the question which technologies can bring a change to the educational prospects; several researches and surveys tend to focus on the following ideas -
· Offering a learning access 24*7 by providing the student with computer and Internet resources promoting education in rural areas
· Initiating mobile technologies in learning, as it enables learning on the go supporting a wide range of applications.
Educational institutes need to focus more on the planning while integrating technology in education, as spending dollars without a specific goal is likely to produce beneficial results. For reaching better heights with educational technology in distance learning courses all that needs to be done is putting more effort towards the planning.
