Technology has impacted almost every aspect of life today, and education is no exception. Or is it? Classrooms today do not look much different, though you might find modern students looking at their laptops, tablets, or smart phones instead of books. A cynic would say that technology has done nothing to change education, but actually we all know it highly did.
Technology has profoundly changed education. For one, technology has greatly expanded access to education. Today, massive amounts of information are available at one’s fingertips through the Internet, and opportunities for formal learning are available online.
Because of the access to information and educational opportunity that technology has enabled, in many classrooms today we see the teacher’s role shifting to the “guide on the side” as students take more responsibility for their own learning using technology to gather relevant information. By integrating technology into teaching, instructor are giving students more chances to expand their knowledge as they use the internet to read, see, listen or even to write as they use authentic resources.
Technology is a powerful tool that can support and transform teaching in many ways, from making it easier for teachers to create instructional materials to enabling new ways for students to learn. It is up to teachers to make the most of the opportunities provided by technology and to integrate it into education properly.
