When students are required to obtain the skills for the new century, the desire to further integrate technology into our classrooms is bigger. Whether it's a K-12 or college classroom, it's rare to find an environment that does not integrate technology in some form or another. In some cases, online learning has replaced the physical classroom altogether. As educators, we owe it to ourselves and our students to use these benefits. However, while technology offers significant advantages, simply integrating it as an alternative source of delivery or as another means for students to demonstrate their comprehension is not an effective practice.
We must remind ourselves that any form of learning technology should also be guided. These resources are just instruments and require high-quality guided practice from instructors. These instruments, combined with guidance, can afford good instruction, practice and motivation. While technology can positively impact learning outcomes, it may be even more effective for some students if it's instructor-led and integrated into a well-designed curriculum.
Technology is rapidly changing the educational environment and challenging students to adapt accordingly. It can frustrate students of different generations struggling to learn how to use a learning platform in addition to picking up the actual subject. Some may wonder, "Why should I waste time learning how to create a podcast(播客) when I could simply write the paper?"
It's a reasonable question. We must not assume students who were raised using technology are always comfortable learning with these tools. A study found that because of tools some students may not have experience using, they may need more direction on how to apply these tools. Students may struggle if an instructor neglects to teach the conceptual basis of the tools. Technology may mean little without appropriate objectives and goals for its use, structures for its application, and trained deliverers.
Educators are also tasked with providing students the skills they need to flourish in a highly competitive and technologically-based workplace. Many of the skills obtained through online classes are valuable professional skills. Students taught how to use multiple learning technologies effectively have a competitive advantage over those who are simply using technology as a method of delivery in the online classroom. Regardless of the subjects we teach, integrating technology gives our students the opportunity to not only learn the content, but also to develop skills useful beyond our classrooms. Technology, when integrated and balanced appropriately with the curriculum and with student needs, can make us more effective as educators.
