Running head: USES OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION 1
Uses of Technology in Education
Name
Institutional Affiliation
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Uses of Technology in Education
Introduction
Much of the current considerable changes in the United States’ education and learning
sector are accredited to the rapid advancement in technology. Technological forms especially
personal computers assist students in conducting scholarly research and accessing diverse
learning material ("Technology and Education," 2018). Currently, in the United States,
technology has grown almost to its peak over the years. To a larger extent, it is being applied in
different fields on a daily basis and this includes education. Whether or not the nation is over-
dependent on technology does not count. But that fact that you will find monitors in almost every
high school class implies that students will find trouble getting through their days without
technology. The U.S. Department of Education emphasizes that the use of digital learning
materials widens course offerings (“Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning,” n.d). The
application of technological reforms in education accelerates learning in the typical American
classroom, eases distance learning, and helps kids with disabilities; therefore, schools ought to
rely on technology over traditional learning approaches.
Using Technology in Classrooms
Computerized technology is highly essential and can help students participate more in
learning sessions. Research from the National Training Laboratories suggests that students can
potentially grasp almost 30% of the information if audio and visual presentations are made a
priority in teaching ("Technology and Education," 2018). Likewise, the use of technologies in
learning encourages greater levels of participation among students. Essentially, these devices
including monitors serve as teaching aides where instructional recordings enlighten students
about practical studies. According to a study by Education Week, the public schools in the
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United States availed a single computer to every group of five students in their classrooms. As a
supplement, schools are equally providing educational software to boost research processes as
well as active learning. While most of them do that, others are dedicated to availing electronic
devices and laptops to teachers and students, thus, enhancing learning within classrooms.
Distance and Online Learning
The propagation of electronic and online communication technologies allows students
from all walks of life to engage in distance education, which would otherwise be geographically
impossible. Reports from the U.S Department of Education point out that over 48 states support
online education ranging from instructional videos to summer school programs ("Technology
and Education," 2018). It is quite evident that globally recognized institutions such as Stanford
University offer online courses on their websites. The point here is that the advancement of
computerized technologies allows different individuals to enroll in various courses without
necessarily attending classes physically. Typically, these institutions employ the video-sharing
website YouTube to avail lectures online for specific costs. While some critics argue that
students do not gain the necessary personal learning experience with this form of education,
distance learning provides opportunities for individuals who face challenges continuing with
their studies.
Solutions for Disabled Students
The relevant improvements in educational technologies present learning opportunities to
students with physical disabilities. Educational research suggests that technology manufacturers
have devised new forms of software and other curriculums including Assistive Technology (AT)
and Text-to-Speech (TTS) to allow the disabled kids to access educational services ("Technology
and Education," 2018). Specifically, the TTS program is manufactured for students with vision
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problems (Blind). With this software, students are able to listen to a text instead of reading it.
Similarly, the TTS can also help students with the dyslexia condition to assist them to go past
their reading difficulties. Assistive teaching programs are also becoming prevalent in schools to
ease communication with impaired students, for example, digital video captioning. Ultimately, it
is precisely on these grounds that schools should embrace technological innovations in their
teaching endeavors.
A wider range of technological innovations are further being applied to educate disabled
kids. For instance, several software developers have come up with different smartphone
applications that can potentially assist students with disabilities. The Speech-to-Text (STT),
specifically, helps to transcribe spoken speech into readable texts ("Technology and Education,"
2018). Equally, other assistive technological inventions have been developed, which tend to
respond to particular voices, hence, helping students with challenges in speech. Also, Sip-and –
puff programs like the Jouse3 enables children with poor motor abilities to control a computer
mouse using their mouths. Lastly, further inventions have helped disabled students to draw and
also play video games.
Opposition View
Critics of the application of technology in education warn that it could eventually
necessitate burdensome training. They contend that although it expands access to educational
resources for teachers and students, technology should be transposed thoughtfully and carefully
as it increases the chances of students getting distracted ("Technology and Education," 2018).
Chances are high that high school kids will resort to social networking sites in the middle of a
learning session. Social activists, on the other hand, have pointed out concerns that incorporating
technological innovations in learning could potentially enlarge the educational gap between the
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rich and the poor. They claim that this may eventually bring us to what experts call a “digital
divide” where the poor may not have the same opportunities of accessing computerized devices
as the rich students.
Refutation
According to Montrieux, Vanderlinde, Schellens, &De Marez (2015), teachers do not
find it burdensome to use tablet technologies as teaching tools. In fact, they believe that these
innovations are of instrumental value and are actually making their tasks easier. While opponents
claim possibilities of students being distracted by social networking and online games,
Montrieux et al, (2015) suggests that the presence of competent IT teams can help curb this
challenge and make these innovations a success within the academic world. Meanwhile, the 2016
report by Education Week that the U.S. Department of Education provided one computer for
every five students in every public school refutes that view that technology would present a
digital divide ("Technology and Education," 2018).
Opposition View and Refutation
More other opponents reveal that online educational resources necessitate connectivity,
which is a challenge for many rural schools. They emphasize that internet connections may not
be accessed in some locations making it difficult to apply technology in learning ("Technology
and Education," 2018). However, this can be refuted by the fact that the Federal
Communications Commission continuously seeks to avail efficient connectivity to that nation’s
schools providing them with high-speed internet access. Furthermore, detractors of online
education are concerned that distant students embracing e-learning are denied the necessary
adapted learning experience as well as the social benefits of physically attending class. Primarily,
they study alone and do not get to interact with other students. Other overseers continue to
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question the business operations of higher level institutions engaging in distant education. Also,
Opponents claim that online education institutions tend to mislead their clients about the quality
of educational services they offer.
Proponents of electronic learning, on the other hand, emphasize that regardless of the
social relationship of students, it provides a huge opportunity for individuals to continue their
studies from the comfort of their home. Also, prestigious universities like Stanford and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology have credible websites where they post reliable classes
online ("Technology and Education," 2018). This implies that distant students pay for quality
education, thus, refuting any cases of misleading in the excellence of learning material as
claimed by opponents. As a matter of fact, some of these institutions provide informative lectures
free of charge.
For the application of technology in education to assist students with disabilities,
opponents criticize that the assistive innovations are often expensive particularly among
financially struggling families. They claim that some families may not be financially stable to
meet the health care costs relating to physical disability ("Technology and Education," 2018).
However, this challenge is often addressed with public health programs including Medicaid and
Medicare, which tend to meet the costs of Assistive Technology (AT). Still, other families may
be signed up with private insurance contractors who are always ready to provide the necessary
funds to cater for students’ medical health. These allow disabled children to access assistive
innovations, thus, refuting the assertion that AI is often expensive as claimed by antagonists of
the incorporation of technology in learning.
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Conclusion
Just by incorporating technological innovations in the American education system,
schools in the United States can improve learning in classrooms, ease online education and help
kids with physical disabilities. Students will become more active and participative in class if they
start using computerized gadgets and tablets as part of their studies. Learning within the
classroom would become easier as research via the internet will be a walkover. Also, more
students across the globe would finally be able to partake courses in prestigious institutions like
Stanford University through a system known as online education. While some opponents voice
out a few inconsistencies in educational technology, the entire learning process will be relieved
of the burdens that come with the traditional approaches to teaching if we embrace the former
practice.
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References
"Technology and Education." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Gale. (2018). Opposing
Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3010999175/OVIC?
u=gtechclg&sid=OVIC&xid=82de878b
“Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning.” U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Retrieved
from https://www.ed.gov/oii-news/use-technology-teaching-and-learning
Montrieux, H., Vanderlinde, R., Schellens, T., & De Marez, L. (2015). Teaching and Learning with
Mobile Technology: A Qualitative Explorative Study about the Introduction of Tablet Devices in
Secondary Education. PLOS ONE, 10(12), e0144008. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144008.
Retrieved from http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144008
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