Education and Technology: Six impacts of technology on modern education

The impact of technology in the classroom, from elementary school to higher education, is a subject that has been widely discussed by professionals, without reaching a consensus. Standard Gateway as an organization that is laser-focused on education and technology, this is a question of even greater interest to what we do in understanding its impact on our customers.

When it comes to the internet and, especially, access to it from the cell phone, it is still very recent, so what can be done is to seek a way to always improve how knowledge is acquired and used.

The so-called “digital age” ceased to be a differential of the educational market many years ago. Today, technology is indispensable, both in the management of institutions, as well as in classrooms.

The traditional method of teaching, where classrooms were formed based on an extremely rigid hierarchy, where the holder of knowledge is the teachers, has been out of use for quite some time.

Today, classes need to be more and more dynamic and mainly collaborative, giving space to the involvement and interaction of the student. And in this scenario, technology plays a vital role in all changes.

Cell phone use has grown a lot among children. A survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) showed that between the years 2005 and 2011, the number of users of smartphone device from 10 years of age had a growth of 107.2%. The fact is that most of these users take the device into the classroom.

Given these numbers, it is clear that technology is already part of the reality in education, and it can have negative or positive impacts.

Below we are going to discuss six ways in which technology is impacting modern education.

1. Institutional information: organization and easy access

Do you remember how student data were stored (and the institution in general) at a time when technology was not so accessible?

Today it is possible to do much more than digitizing the information so that the institution can organize an efficient database and reduce the time dedicated to searching for them.

In addition to saving time (fundamental in the routine of a professional in the area of education), organizing data in an Educational Management Software also promotes the economy of physical space for files, materials, and resources (such as paper, printing, among others).

For us, at Standard Gateway we give our contribution towards this goal towards our different solutions such as our national examination platforms. Whereas in the past students used to have copies of past exams and keys, we infuse technology in the process by providing easy access to materials anytime anywhere.

2. Prioritize the quality of teaching and dedicate efforts to the growth of the institution.

Still talking about time-saving: imagine a time when the teacher could dedicate his efforts toward the development and the growth of the institution, besides observing the quality of education?

Well, the good news is that we are living this moment. And it’s been a while.

Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of an Institution, besides measuring the level of satisfaction of students, for a long time, was something quite complicated, and that required the involvement of several professionals.

Today, one of the main impacts of technology in education, allows us to simplify quality research, measure data provided by systems, develop performance reports, and have absolute control of all sectors of the institution.

3. Fast and efficient communication.

“We can’t make contact.” With the impacts of technology on education, this sentence is tough to mention.

Furthermore, communication needs to be immediate, and technology allows numerous facilities to communicate, such as:

• Agility in requests;

• Sending communications;

• Notifications and reminders;

• Consultation of Institutional Reports;

• Frequency analysis and recording;

• And much more.

The relationship of an educational Institution with its academic community, made possible by a prompt, effective, and low-cost communication between students, teachers, guardians, and others involved, is fundamental for a process of loyalty.

4. The Classroom on the Web

The interaction between teachers and students does not end after class.

Providing extra and updated content, resources, and differentiated activities that relate theory and practice are already part of the teacher’s routine. And the best: optimize the time of these professionals.

It is also essential to highlight the distance learning modality, which has been gaining strength, especially to meet those who live far from the institution or do not have time to attend classes and needs the flexibility of schedules for studies.

5. The financial health of the institution

When we talk about the impacts of technology on education, we cannot fail to mention the financial health of the institution.

The Education-technology relationship helps, above all, in financial processes that increase the competitive capacity of the institution, through facilities such as:

• Grouping of monthly installments in a single bill of exchange;

• Renegotiations.

In addition to allowing the institution a much more effective control over the expenses, it is also possible to have a much broader diagnosis of investments and spending in general, thus eliminating waste.

6. Use of blogs, videos, and social networks as complementary alternatives for content and out-of-class engagement.

Out-of-class activities make a very positive contribution to student learning and are excellent allies of the teachers.

The use of tools such as blogs and social networks, awaken creativity, and stimulate the search for knowledge – to be shared with others.

But after all, what is the best option to start this methodology? To promote extra class activities that involve these tools, should they follow any specific pedagogical line?

While resistance to inserting these tools into lesson plans is collective, adding them into teaching can increase student engagement through the promotion of online activities. 

Remember that the students are always connected online and attentive to these new features.

So why not be an ally of these tools, as long as there are rules for their use?

Technology has much to contribute to the school environment.

Including teaching in the constant technological transformation that we live in is a great challenge.

It is necessary not only to have mastery of the tools but also to use appropriate methodologies to involve them in teaching and have it as a great ally in the construction of knowledge, through reliable sources of information and effective means of communication.

For the Institutions, the benefits are countless and enable a whole administrative optimization that, without it, such beneficial changes would be far from reality.

It is worth mentioning that it is also necessary to make the academic community aware of the excellent use of tools, and the impacts of technology on education, its social and cultural development.

Technology has been a key enabler in all sectors, but education has been trailing behind due to several reasons. It is up to organizations such as Standard Gateway to push for new frontiers and explore new tools and methodologies.

SG Team
info@standardgateway.com



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