Learn How Digital Technology in Education Can be Used Today

In the last two decades, technology has significantly changed the education industry. Today, most learners use internet-enabled devices like smartphones and laptops for academic tasks such as taking notes, attending lectures, and keeping track of assignments. 

Research of 2022 reveals India as one of the second-largest online markets in the world, with an internet penetration of 47% and 900 million active internet users. Reports show that the internet penetration rate is expected to reach above 55% by 2025.

This sudden increase in internet users has led to digitisation across industries, especially education.

Here, we will look at the future usage of technology in education. But before that, let’s understand the current usage of technology in education.  

Present Usage of Digital Technology in Education

Technology has profoundly changed education. It has opened doors to a massive amount of information through online books, podcasts, images, and videos. Traditionally, technology was only used for completing assignments. But today, it is used for various things, from learning to communicating and collaborating.  

Technology has also opened up numerous opportunities for communication and collaboration. For instance, students in a classroom in rural India can learn from an article published by a US agency. They can communicate through email and even talk to them virtually via video conference.  

Furthermore, technology has changed the role of teachers and students. Traditionally, teachers were the main source of information for students. However, with the internet, information is accessible to everyone, shifting the role of teachers as a ‘guide on the side’.  

How Can You Use Digital Technology in Education?

Technology is already a large part of our lives outside of the classroom. So, incorporating them into education makes sense. However, technology in education shouldn’t be limited to giving lectures through PowerPoint presentations or virtual classrooms.

Here are some innovative ways to use technology in education.

1# Teach Students Key Soft Skills by Flipping the Classroom

Flipping the classroom or letting students become teachers is one of the best ways to develop key soft skills like research, presentation, communication, and storytelling.  

Teachers can assign students a topic to present and explain using appropriate technology. This means they can create a podcast, PowerPoint presentation, or video to explain the topic. This will help students learn how to assess different online sources, understand how to find information online, verify materials found on the internet, and develop their research skills.  

This learning approach will help students understand how to present a topic to their peers in an engaging manner, solve queries related to a topic, and lead a classroom.  

2# Utilise Online Tools for Improving Collaboration

Many online tools like Google Docs and others allow students to share and edit each other’s work. These applications are helping students hone their collaboration skills which are predicted to be an in-demand skill in the future. More so because of the increase in remote working- a future workplace trend.  

Therefore, having excellent collaboration skills will enable students to navigate remote working scenarios successfully.  

3# Using BYOD to Test the Understanding of Concepts  

BYOD or Bring Your Own Device is a practice of allowing people to bring their computers, smartphones, or other devices to the workplace. Implementing BYOD in education can help teachers provide instant feedback to students. They (teachers) can have an in-class poll or quiz after every class and encourage students to use their phones or laptop to answer them.  

This will help them give students instant feedback and determine if the students have understood the concepts explained in the class.   

4# Use Extended reality technologies for an immersive learning experience  

Teachers can use extended reality (XR) technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to add real value to the learning process by increasing students’ ability to visualise concepts. They can use these technologies to offer an immersive learning experience.  

For instance, students can learn about Polar bears and their habitat by visiting the Artic circle virtually.  

5# Gamification  

Gamification enables students to learn through games or more interactive learning material. Using game-based elements allows students to remember and understand new and complex information instantly. It also increases the engagement level of students, connects them with the real world, and provides instant feedback.  

For example, teachers can use typing games to teach students how to type faster. This can be incredibly engaging and also involve fun and excitement. Teachers can also split them into a group to develop collaborative skills.  

What are the Benefits of Digital Technology in Education? 

• Increased access to education resources – Students can access a vast range of information and resources that were unavailable in traditional classrooms.
• Increased student engagement – Digital technology has made education more interactive and engaging. For instance, the introduction of gamification in education has made learning fun and interactive. It has also made it easier to understand and remember difficult subjects.
• Students can learn at their pace with digital tools like adaptive learning software and more.

Technology is a powerful tool that can support and transform education in many ways, from making it easier for teachers to curate learning materials to enabling new ways for people to learn. With the worldwide reach of the internet and the easy accessibility of smart devices that can connect to it, a new age of education is dawning.

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