The Role of Technology in Education | b.ed notes

 

The Role of Technology in Education 

 

Following is the role of technology in education:

Providing Effective Teaching-Learning Tools: 

Many tools and applications brought by technology are put into practice to make the teaching-learning process interesting and interactive. 

Eg- Multimedia CDs, PPT Presentation, Animation, Graphic, Interactive Video, Digital Repository, Open Educational Resources, Interactive White Board, Web 2.0 Tools (Blog, Group, Wiki, Social Networking), Handycam, Digital Camera, Smart Phone, Mobile Application (E-Pathshala, E-Meritation, Google Translate, etc.), Documentary Camera, Language Lab, Video Conferencing etc.

 

Creating Demand of Techno-pedagogical Content Knowledge: 

Due to the intervention of technology in education, there is a need today.

That teachers should be provided with pedagogical knowledge as well as technical pedagogical knowledge so that they develop the knowledge and skills of using appropriate technology according to the nature and complexity of the curriculum and learning experience.

Emerging as Effective Tool for Reflective Practices in Teacher Education Programme:

 

In order to ensure the quality of teaching-learning system, it is necessary that the teacher should be a lecturer as well as a reflective practitioner, who should find out the shortcomings of his teaching and bring necessary improvements in it and create an effective format for his teaching. 

Video recording, blog, group, e-portfolio, CCTV, interactive video, animation etc. are used in teaching program especially during teaching practice. 

It encourages self-evaluation as well as peer-evaluation which encourages the process of reflective thinking.

Serving as Media for Communication:

 

Today, many mediums or means are being used for communication of information, which has given a new form to information communication. 

The content of information is available today in the form of multimedia. Two or more formats (text, images, graphs, video, audio and animation) are being used together to develop information content. 

Web or Internet (webinar, e-mail, blog, group, YouTube, LMS, professional community, etc.), teleconferencing, PPT presentation, multimedia CDs, documentary camera, etc. are being used for communication of information. 

 

Apart from this, CCTV, e-news, educational Doordarshan, educational radio (EDUSAT-Gyandarshan, Gyanvani) etc. are also being used in the field of education for communication of information.

Making the Learning More Dynamic, Engaged and Interactive:

The integration of technology helps in making the classroom interactive. 

When along with text, images, graphs, audio, video, animation, etc. are used to deliver the course material, it is easier for learners, who have different learning styles, to understand the course material. 

 

This makes the course material more interesting, which ensures the learner's attention span throughout the class. 

The use of PPT presentation, documentary camera, interactive video, interactive web etc. during class promotes interaction between teacher and learner and learner-learner. 

Using technology, the teacher can easily reach and interact with more and more learners and can easily make their feedback and curiosity a part of the teaching-learning process.

Enriching the content of the Lesson:

 

Teacher can enrich the curriculum by using multimedia tools, web resources, interactive videos, Windows Movie Maker, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Picasa etc.

Promoting Alternative Assessment:

Alternative assessment, especially assessment for learning and assessment as learning, e-portfolios, rubystar, blogs, forums etc. are being used. Data Base Management System (Microsoft Access) is used for preparing student profile.

Serving as Facilitator in the Process of Learning:

 

The inclusion of technology in the teaching-learning process helps in facilitating learning. It facilitates the process of learning by ensuring the engagement of the learners in the teaching-learning process and by guiding the process of their discovery of the content or solution to the problem.

Promoting Self Learning:

 

Use of technology encourages self-learning. Computer assisted learning, web based learning (online courses, interactive web, multimedia tools), use of web resources etc. promote self-learning. By using these the learner learns with his/her specific ability, learning style and learning rate.

Promoting Life - Long Learning:

 

Through technology, the learner can work for updating and expanding the subject knowledge throughout his life. In this direction they can be used web resources, interactive web, webinars, professional community, video conferencing (Skype) etc.

Promoting Open and Distance Learning: 

 

The use of technology such as forums, chats, blogs, video conferencing, LMS etc. can empower the open and distance education system. Today, online courses are also being used in the open education system.

Promoting Mass Education:

Educational radio, educational television, news (e-news, e-newsletter), social media, professional community, etc. can be used for mass education (adult education, population education, vocational education, literacy programs, awareness programs).

 

Promoting Universalisation of Quality Education:

Through technology, remote areas of the country can be connected with the mainstream. By meeting the shortage of teachers, shortage of schools and lack of teaching-learning resources to a great extent and by empowering open schools, the quality of education can be promoted and education can be taken to every nook and corner of the country. 

Universalization of quality education is being promoted through technology by linking with NIOS centers, NGOs and government schools. 

 

The shortage of quality teaching-learning material and quality teachers can be overcome by the e-school project being run by NCERT. 

The shortage of resources and teachers can be met to a great extent by connecting all the existing schools in the school complex through technology (internet, video conferencing, blog, group etc.).

Continuous Professional Development:

Webinar, Video Conferencing, Blog, Forum, Social Media, Wikieducator,

Through online courses (MOOCS), teachers can be aware of new developments and practices in the field of school education and teacher education and can update their professional knowledge and competence.

 

School Administration and Management:

Advertisement through LMS, Data Base Management System, CCTV, Blog, Forum, Video Conferencing etc., Recruitment Test, Online Examination, Student Profile, Attendance Register, Assignment, Reporting, BRC or CRC Level Meeting, Seminar, Workshop etc. Can be arranged smoothly.

Co-Scholastic Activities:

Organization of lesson-accompanying activities can be streamlined through speakers, microphones, video recording, PPT, interactive video, animation, virtual field experience, virtual lab, Windows Movie Maker, Picasa, Windows Media Player, documentary camera, etc.

 

It is clear that technology has a special role in education. It has changed the nature of education itself. 

Web-based learning and blended learning are taking the place of direct education. 

Multimedia approach is being adopted for effective organization of lessons and co-curricular activities. 

It has encouraged alternative assessment systems using interactive Web 2.0 tools. 

It has empowered the open and distance education system through video conferencing and LMS. 

It has also promoted practice teaching programs of teacher education and continuous professional development of teachers. 

Through this, universality of quality education, self-learning, lifelong learning and mass education have got a new direction. 

Therefore, the need for technical integrated education seems imperative today.