The influx of technology into the academic sector has taken many institutions by surprise, as they try to adopt the new tools and services in their curriculum. And as a result, critics believe that this era of technological advancement in academia will hamper students’ long-term development.
But that’s not the case. Judging from the upward trend in students’ academic performance and engagement lately, it is clear that educational technology is a net positive in learning.
Whether it is a paper writing help platform or an online learning portal, students acquire massive benefits from using these.
This article explores how educational technology makes learning better for students and teachers.
It Levels the Playing Field for Students
In the past, a wide learning gap existed between students from different economic backgrounds.
Social factors like poverty and disenfranchisement played significant roles in how students approached schoolwork. Those from poor households struggled to compete with their peers from privileged backgrounds.
But with the tools available in remote learning, students can get an equal opportunity to learn regardless of their background. Tools like essay-reviews.com, where students can find essay writing services reviews, answer engines, online libraries, and others, are available to every student, making it possible for them to get real-time assistance with schoolwork.
Educational Technology Fosters Collaboration
Traditional learning models provided little or no avenue for collaboration. Students could only work as a team in the same physical location, even on group projects.
However, technology has erased this gap in communication, making it easier for students to collaborate on projects. Tools like Google Docs allow multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously.
Instant messengers also allow students to communicate with their peers and teachers when they are stuck on any project.
In addition, teachers can monitor these collaborations to evaluate every student’s involvement in the project.
AI-Powered Tools in Education Provide Access to Data
Modern learning platforms now rely on AI to optimize performance, gather data, and improve the user experience.
For example, Wolfram Alpha provides detailed solutions to frequently asked questions in science and humanities. Similarly, Altitude Learning helps students improve their academic performance through self-curated learning.
And most importantly, teachers and faculty staff use the data from AI platforms to adjust their curriculum and improve the student’s experience in school.
It Enables Personalized Learning
Most people attribute the personalization of learning material to attentive teachers. However, although these teachers are good at their jobs, they struggle to identify these learning gaps without artificial intelligence.
AI-powered tools combine with machine learning algorithms to determine students’ interests, strengths, and problem areas. By analyzing the data, teachers can identify specific areas of focus to bring trailing students up to speed.
It Boosts Student Engagement
Since students feel that the educational material addresses their most pressing needs, it keeps them more engaged in the learning process. Also, hybrid learning models combine the best of physical classrooms with remote studies. As a result, students are more involved with the curriculum due to a constant change of scenery.
Besides, tools like Slack and Zoom add another level of personal touch for teachers to communicate with their students. Since these tools are not location-restricted, students can enjoy 24/7 access to learning materials. Further voice generators help to convert written text to voice and provide a more engaging learning experience.
Apart from that, gamification also helps teachers connect better with students who have a short attention span. Duolingo can provide an interactive, fun atmosphere for students to learn languages at their own pace.
Above all, the introduction of virtual labs and simulations extends the learning experience beyond the real world. VR and AR goggles now help students perceive the virtual world as part of learning. And with the current Metaverse, students can further explore the limitless possibilities of the virtual world.
Educational Tools Involve Parents in the Learning Process
Previously, parents had to rely on report cards and PTA meetings to determine their students’ academic progress. In some cases, parents only find out about their children’s poor academic performance when summoned to the disciplinary committee.
But with technology, parents now have unfettered access to educators to discuss their kids’ progress. They can also access their classroom performance data, grades, projects, and disciplinary conduct.
Educational Technology Improves the Efficiency of Teachers
The use of technology reduces the burden on teachers by taking care of manual administrative tasks.
For instance, teachers no longer need to spend hours grading courses and assignments. With Kahoot! and Quizizz, teachers can prepare questions for students and grade the questions instantly.
Also, AI-powered chatbots can help teachers answer frequently asked questions without addressing every student individually. With automated responses, educators can program answers to these questions or provide links to authoritative learning resources.
Finally, with the introduction of media tools in education, teachers can extend their arsenal of teaching tools to include podcasts, videos, live streams, and tutorials.
Conclusion
Educational technology offers massive avenues for improvement for students, teachers, parents, and faculty staff. With AI-powered tools, schools can optimize the curriculum as well as the learning process to maximize engagement, thereby boosting performance.
Collaboration and communication tools also boost teamwork and foster an inclusive learning environment. And with access to unlimited swathes of data, educators can personalize their teaching methods to address specific student needs.