Technology has had a huge impact on the world of education, both in terms of positive aspects and challenges that need to be faced. Here are some of the impacts:
Positive impact:
Access to Wider Learning Resources: With technology, students and teachers have access to various learning resources, such as learning videos, digital books, articles and other interactive materials via the internet. This allows for more flexible and varied learning.
Distance Learning: Technology allows education to be done anywhere and at any time. Platforms such as Google Classroom, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams allow lessons to continue even if they are not face to face.
Personalization of Learning: Technology allows teachers to provide material that suits each student's needs. Learning programs or applications can adjust the difficulty of the material based on individual abilities, allowing the learning process to be more effective.
Collaboration and Communication: Technology makes communication between students, teachers and parents easier. For example, through learning applications or online forums, students can share knowledge, discuss, or get direct feedback from the teacher.
Enhanced Digital Skills: By continuing to use technology, students can develop digital skills that are critical in the world of work of the future, such as software usage, coding skills, and digital media literacy.
Negative impact:
Dependence on Technology: Excessive use of technology can cause dependency, reduce direct social interaction, and affect students' critical and creative thinking abilities if they rely too much on digital sources.
Technology Access Gaps: Not all students have equal access to devices and adequate internet connections. This can create a gap in the quality of education between students who have access and those who do not.
Distraction and Misuse of Technology: Technology can be a distraction if not used wisely. Students can be tempted to use devices solely for entertainment (e.g. social media or gaming) rather than for educational purposes.
Security and Privacy Issues: The use of technology in education poses risks regarding the security of students' and teachers' personal data. Information that is not properly protected can be subject to data leaks or misuse.
Need for Continuous Teacher Learning: For technology to be used effectively, teachers need to be continuously trained to use digital tools and platforms well. Without sufficient training, technology can be misused or not utilized to its full potential.
Overall, technology has the potential to revolutionize education, but it needs to be balanced with wise policies and approaches so that its negative impacts can be minimized.
