The Duality of Technology in Education: Advancements and Distractions

In recent years, technology has greatly impacted the way we approach education. From online learning and virtual reality to personalized learning and adaptive assessments, technology has made schooling more efficient and accessible. However, with the integration of technology in education comes the question of whether it is a helpful tool or a distraction.

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We are in an age where virtually everything is evolving right before our very eyes. And with every passing moment in time, the evolution seeps deeper into our everyday lives. It is fascinatingly interesting to see the way our form of education has taken on a whole different shape from what it had at least a decade ago. I consider myself privileged to be a student in this generation, with all the mind-boggling technologies that are being created every day.

When I entered the university, I was privileged to have a smartphone and, of course, access to the internet. And with these, I have always been able to make learning more efficient over the years. There have been countless times when I would need to learn more about some subjects because either the material or the lecture given for a course (or both) just wouldn't suffice.

An example would be when I was a sophomore. It was our first time learning about actual engineering concepts, particularly in electrical engineering, and many times these lecturers would be too fast or just ineffective with their teaching, making us rely on the provided materials that were equally ineffective and then leaving us deluged in confusion. What we would then do is go on to search for videos that would help us learn the concepts better.

We would have been stranded and at the mercy of the lecturer if it hadn't been for the remote learning capability that technology has provided. And this helped me all through my years at the university. However, learning as we knew it evolved into something else.

It is undeniable how technology came in and saved education in 2022, during the pandemic. When it hit us, we all had our lives completely shifted: students, parents, teachers, and almost everyone was sent home, and a new way had to begin for them. This was when remote schooling, albeit not a new thing, became increasingly popular and the go-to solution.

This transition from physical lectures to online lectures was a little difficult for me because it was a completely different learning environment, and we now had our learning environment in the same space as our social and entertainment environments.

There are certain times when technology just becomes a distraction rather than an aid to learning. For example, social media platforms can be a form of distraction as non-educational activities can get in the way, sometimes causing a lack of focus.

I watch YouTube a lot, and I am subscribed to quite a lot of people that I find interesting. So many times, when I am using YouTube to learn certain concepts, some other interesting videos come into sight, and from there, I wouldn't know how I landed on Lichess.org playing chess. It's not like these things cannot be controlled, but it buttresses the point that having these two environments (school and leisure) is indeed something.

Technology in years to come

Looking to the future, technology will continue to play an important role in education. Online learning will become even more prevalent, therefore providing a more flexible and accessible education for students.

Technologies like virtual and augmented reality will be used to create immersive and interactive learning experiences. An example would be the Metaverse and the VR headset, which hold prospects for advancing education in the future.

Smartphones and other gadgets, as well as the internet, will improve, making education more accessible to people. Smartphones also come with a variety of apps that can help students stay organized, manage their time more effectively, and also do their things "on the go."

There will be bots and automated systems that will make learning, as well as teaching, a more effective process for students and teachers. Furthermore, artificial intelligence will significantly increase student efficiency. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be increasingly used to personalize learning, provide real-time feedback, and assist teachers with assessment and data analysis.

There will be game-based learning and gamification techniques that will be used to make learning more engaging and interactive for students. Digital assessment will become more prevalent, providing more efficient and accurate ways to measure student learning.

With technology ever-growing, the possibilities are really endless in education. And, although technology cannot replace the human aspect of teaching, it will be used to enhance and supplement education, not replace it. The role of the teacher will remain vital in providing guidance, support, and feedback to students.

In conclusion, technology has greatly impacted education, making it more efficient and accessible. However, it is important to find a balance in its use to prevent distractions. The future of education will continue to be technology-driven, and it is essential for educators and students to adapt to new developments.