Last Updated on: 29th June 2022, 08:37 pm

The world today is governed by technology. Technology is now seen in every department. Technology has impacted learning and ways to learn and obtain knowledge. Students now feel easy and comfortable to use their phones and laptops to study effectively. Now maximum educational institutions are trying to integrate technology in classrooms.

By incorporating technology in classrooms, we have developed a much more enhanced and interactive learning space for today’s students. Everything has pros and cons so below we are going to mention some positive and negative effects of incorporating information technologies in modern classrooms.

Productive Effects of Information Technology:

As technology has revolutionized everything, we can see in the last decade that more and more students and teachers are incorporating technologies in their lives. This has given many benefits to people related to education. Students can now completely rely on technology to learn and teachers can also use this same technology to make learning efficient and easy. Leaving the traditional ways of teaching which aren’t efficient now in this modern age of information technology.

Below are some of the positives that have been seen with the inclusion of information technology in classrooms:

• Better Engagement with Studies:

Students today get connected to technologies with more ease. Rather than in old ways of reading physicals books, students now read e-books. Using a computer, tablets and even smartphones will give rise to the active participation of students. Learning dull subjects is made easy by interactive lesson plans, all because of technology. With visual animations and presentations, students are more attentive while learning new things.

• Virtual Lessons:

Technology has given a way of virtual lessons which will provide individualized instruction for all. Online learning portals like Khan Academy and online video streaming services like YouTube are full of videos and information that can be accessed to get information about any topic. Allowing students to learn at their peace and skipping something as per need. Giving rise to an environment complementing a different kind of learning style. Also, many students can take online classes from their homes or teachers can conduct online classes if they are unable to be present in class.

• Improved Coordination:

Using technology has facilitated collaboration between students. When technology-based projects are given to small groups of students, there are always some students who have an extra grip on the technology. These students can routinely help their peers who have less grip on the same technological devices. For example, some students have a good grip on Microsoft Office rather than others. These students can help other students to learn such programs with more efficiency.

• Adaption to Modern Technologies:

Introducing instructional technology in classrooms at an early level would result in students knowing and adapting to future digital technologies more easily. Teaching to research, collaborate, solving problems and MS office will be highly beneficial. According to a study 9 out of 10 students have shown interest in using technology in the classroom. This can highly increase their productivity.

Negative effects of Information Technology:

• Unethical Use:

Technology has given the privilege of accessing information from anywhere at any time. This has led to students finding a way for cheating in exams and tests. Parents and teachers are worried as the risks of cheating are also increasing.

• Distraction:

Widened and increased use of technology in the classrooms have also become a distraction. Students today know how to use it very well, so they also use it to have fun and entertainment. They use their gadgets to play games and watch videos. These things distract them from learning. These distractions have put a hurdle in the students’ learning process.

• The Health Factor:

We all know how fast technology is spreading in the world. Each of us has phones and mostly we are using them. Many students are using their phones, laptops, and tablets, etc. every day during school hours. Most of the time and when in classrooms they also have access to technology this increases the screen watch time. This impacts the health of the student in a negative way. The use of technology should be under teachers’ and parents’ provisions.

Technology Used in the Classroom:

Technology is incorporating into educational institutions at a rapid pace. Below are some gadgets that are making classrooms smarter and better:

• Projector:

Projectors can be seen in most of the classrooms today. This device is being used for many purposes from presenting PowerPoint slides to playing video animations. Teachers can teach through material projected on the screen and students can give presentations creating a productive and interactive environment.

• Smart Boards:

This piece of tech is a step forward from using projectors in class to enhance the learning environment. These touchscreen Smartboards allow users to write on them with real or digital markers. Teachers can make recordings of what is written on the smartboard. They can also turn lines drawn from a digital marker into a tangible visual element. Making diagrams and playing 3D animations on smartboards help enhance the learning experience.

• Cloud Servers and Emails:

Cloud Servers are being used in classrooms by students as it allows them to store their assignments, projects, and other useful data. This could eliminate the need for traditional computer labs. Many schools have dedicated portals where students can store their data and can interact with their teachers. Emails are also used by both students and teachers to have a sense of communication between them even after school hours.

Not All Education Institutes Can Afford Latest Technologies:

Educational institutes find it costly to incorporate technologies in the classrooms. Not all schools have the same resources and not all schools have heavy annual fee-paying students. This limitation of funds often contributes to schools not be able to keep up with modern times. Having the latest technology in modern classrooms is a must. But due to the problems of funds and awareness, many schools fail to implement the new technological model of teaching.

Conclusion

Intergrading information technologies in classrooms has brought a revolution. Students are learning more through technology. Teachers and students are now able to interact well in classrooms. Even out of classrooms both students and teachers can greatly benefit from technology. Though technology has given an edge over tons of things, at the same time it has also affected negatively. It has become a viable source of distraction. Students are becoming addicted to technology. It is also responsible for causing health problems like low eyesight and insomnia.

In the end, it truly depends on how technology is implemented in the user’s life. Incorporating technology should be done extensively yet carefully. If the use of technology is carried out with guidelines and provisions in educational institutions and let them know how they can brighten their career in the future with a positive use then it will increase productivity in the classrooms for both students and teachers.