Qualification International Foundation Diploma (Business)

Batch No IFD25

Technology in Education: Advantages and

Project Title
Disadvantages

Name of Candidate Ijaaz

Candidate No. IDF125082110

Submission Date 22nd November 2021

Word Count 2290 Words

Table of Contents

1. Introduction..............................................................................................................3

2. The Importance of Technology in Education...........................................................4

3. Advantages of Technology in Education..................................................................5

4. Disadvantages of Technology in Education.............................................................7

5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................8

6. References ...............................................................................................................10

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 Technology in Education: Advantages and Disadvantages
1. Introduction

The term educational technology refers to the use of technology in an academic setting, whether
in primary or secondary schools, colleges, universities, institutional training centers, or
independent study at home. (Raja and Nagasubraman, 2018). The 21st-century era is often
viewed as an era of technology. Technology plays a very crucial role in our lives today. It is
reflected as the basis for the growth of an economy. A technology-weak economy has no room
for growth in today’s day and age, thus making technology more manageable and less time-
consuming. The effects of technology may be observed in a variety of disciplines, one of which
is education. A study conducted by Raja and Nagasubraman revealed that using modern
equipment, technology and tools increase student learning and interactivity. They also
discovered it to be more interactive and exciting with the help of technology, and the

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transference of knowledge becomes very easy, convenient, and practical (Raja and
Nagasubraman, 2018).

The essay aims to understand the importance of technology in education, the benefits that can be
gained through it and the drawbacks that follow. Take digital and education as an example the
penetration of digital media within the education sector has improved. This penetration has given
rise to the 24-hour connectivity with students and different environments, which is accessible for
various assignments and aids. However, the use of technology in education has resulted in a
significant increase in the number of devices that students require. Since the ear of paper is being
replaced by digital learning, every college student is urged to acquire at least a laptop. As the
power of digital media increases, the applications that help students develop and learn likewise
increases. Alternately showing that our minds now tend to work faster with the aid of modern
technology, whether it is part of life or just education, the trust and dependency of such
innovations merely makes life a smooth and easy journey (Raja and Nagasubraman, 2018).

2. Importance of technology in education

Educational technology is a systematic and organized course relating modern technology to

enhance the standards of education. (Stošić, 2015). Technology gives students access to
numerous online resources, which opens them to a significant number of new subjects and
understanding, which help them gain independent knowledge and learn at their own pace. It also
simplifies learning, making theories much easier to grasp with the aid of images and videos. It is
vital to identify that there are many learning styles, and that traditional education does not fit all
of them. So, finding a suitable way of learning can be made easy with technology. Students can
find it challenging to stay focused on what is taught and so the aid of technology is essential in
grabbing their attention to help them grasp and understand better.

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Computers, tablets, and other types of technology provide the teacher with access to materials
not included in textbooks. For example, a teacher can give students additional reading materials
that have online journal articles and blogs that will help the students obtain an in-depth
understanding of the topic taught to them. Additionally, they offer interesting new features and
applications to keep students involved, but they also have additional ways to teach pupils. Every
child learns uniquely, and technology can assist bridge this gap. This technology not only helps
students, but people of all ages to gain knowledge through different platforms. For example, if a
person wants to pursue a master's degree but does not have the time to attend classes, they can
find courses online that they can attend to at their convenience. Anyone, regardless of age, may
benefit from technology.

Education technology uses the latest techniques and ideas to assist instructors in teaching and
students in learning (El-Sofany, and El-Haggar,2020). It assesses personal requirements,
integrates technology into classroom learning, and tracks student progress. It helps teachers by
precisely revealing students' needs, to choose the appropriate technology to incorporate into the
curriculum, as well as monitoring the results to evaluate the success of the assessments.
Technology in education is a relatively recent topic in the world; therefore, people have had to
adapt to this new way of education to get by.

3. Advantages of Technology in Education

Bamiah et al. (2018) state that technology and the internet have facilitated education by enabling
various learning, teaching, and evaluation methods to be implemented in the classroom or a
virtualized environment. Digital technology has made online education easier to access and
affordable for everyone regardless of age, gender, or employability status. In contrast to
traditional learning, which needs specified age and abilities in addition to attendance at a specific
location and time, online education platforms such as Coursera, Show Academy, and Udemy
offer e-learning for anybody who wishes to learn at any time.

Psychology suggests that there are four types of learning methods, visual learners, auditory
learners, reading/writing leaders, and kinesthetic learners. These learning styles are represented

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by educational theorist Neil Fleming's VARK model of Student Learning (Fleming and Baume,
2006). Visual learners prefer to use images, maps, and graphic organizers to obtain and grasp
new information. Auditory learners best comprehend new knowledge by listening and speaking
during lectures and group discussions, auditory learners gain from the use of mnemonic devices
and use repetition as a study approach. For students with strong reading/writing inclination
words are the best way to learn. These students may appear to be meticulous note-takers or
voracious readers who convert abstract notions into words and compositions. Information is best
understood by kinesthetic learners through tactile representations of information. These learning
styles refer to the concept that each student learns in their own unique manner. (Fleming and
Baume, 2006). In technical terms, a student's learning style refers to how they prefer to receive,
process, grasp, and retain knowledge. Individual learning styles are influenced by various
elements, including cognitive, emotional, and contextual influences, as well as prior experience.
Educators must be aware of the variances in their students' learning styles in order to incorporate
best practices into their daily activities, curriculum, and assessments (Borysiuk, 2013). With
today's technology, all types of learners can find the most appropriate and convenient learning
method.

Technology in the classroom is very vital for instructors (Borysiuk, 2013). Today, there are
interactive technologies that can start to automate the grading process. Individual student
performance may be tracked more easily with software platforms, allowing faster identification
of learning gaps. There is more time for real teaching and less time spent at home evaluating
work when more of the tiresome job that instructors undertake every day is automated.
Technology may be utilized to reorganize and rebuild the classroom in order to create an
atmosphere that encourages students to acquire increased thinking abilities (Kurt, 2010).

Technology allows instructors to aggregate and utilize all relevant information on their pupils
through numerous platforms and apps. This might include anything from their attendance record
to their arithmetic abilities. Once acquired, this data may be utilized to pinpoint areas where an
intervention would be beneficial (Kapur, 2019). It can also assist teachers in grouping kids who
would benefit from learning together rather than separately.

It enables fast access to a wide range of resources. There are three methods for conducting
research. The first method is to utilize documents, books, articles, and other reading materials;

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the second method is to use the internet; and the third method is to do field research. Individuals
can improve their knowledge and comprehension by using reading resources. Field research
consists primarily of research conducted by persons in the field. They go to different locations
and collect data and information via field notes, surveys, and interviews. Individuals can have a
better knowledge of topics and access many articles by using the internet. As a result, when
people have access to computers and the internet, they may expand their knowledge and study in
a more manageable, easy, and time-efficient manner. Not long ago, students were expected to
bring their bulky textbooks to class on a daily basis, fortunately most of those textbooks are now
accessible via a computer therefore making it easier for students to gain access to them.
Organizational platforms work together with e-books and other technological tools to make the
learning experience more efficient and successful (Kapur, 2019). School routines are still
rigorous, but technology helps to break down some of the barriers. Because of technology,
improvements and personalized curriculums can be created, students may study at their own
pace, or programs can be more readily adjusted to meet individual requirements.

4. Disadvantages of Technology in Education

Although there are numerous advantages to learning online, it comes with its own set of
drawbacks. To lecture online, teachers require the appropriate tools and assistance. Today
several teachers need to completely rethink their way of teaching as a result of the COVID-19
outbreak, and many are coping under greater workloads while having to adapt new
methodologies. Not everyone understands how to use the contemporary technologies that help
instructors stay more organized in today's classrooms. Learning how to utilize a new tool can be
just as challenging as passing a difficult class to obtain a teaching certificate or diploma. Some

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school districts may not be willing to help with the price of these technologies. As a result, the
expenditures are deducted directly from the teacher's salary.

Another significant drawback is the potential to isolate kids from interpersonal ties. Interacting
with people online differs significantly from engaging with them in person. When individuals
believe they can be anonymous, they lose control over their statements and behaviour. Some
people even avoid face-to-face contact in favor of the comfort of a device, words, and emotions.
That is why technology should be used in the classroom as a tool. It cannot be the sole element
of a student's learning experience (Brandon Gaille, 2018).

Not all students have the luxury of compatible devices and the funds to pay for internet access
(Saroj Meena,2020). Some people may struggle to put food on the table for their children, let
alone pay for internet. For technology to be a successful learning tool, schools must give
equitable access to it to all students. Resources such as internet packages and laptops just for the
use of online learning must be provided for students with no devices who are unable to attend
classes (Brandon Gaille, 2018). With having resources provided, students will be able to learn
just as they would during on-site classes.

Technology makes it easier for individuals to communicate with one another, which is a huge
plus. However, cheating is also more possible due to the availability of communication. If the
instructor is not overseeing students' engagement on the computer, all it requires is a single
group blast to distribute the answers to a quiz or exam. Providing tasks that demand a distinct
viewpoint is a simple method to address this issue. Encouragement of thought rather than
memory has been shown to minimize the desire to cheat (Raja and Nagasubraman, 2018).

Some students may experience medical problems as a result of too much screen time. Eye strain
can be caused by staring at a computer screen, a smartphone screen, or a tablet screen. The
discomfort of the eyes, weariness, and even impaired vision are some of the symptoms that can
arise when this happens. It might develop to "Computer Vision Syndrome," a more severe
ailment (Amrita Balram, 2020). According to CBS News research from 2012, youngsters who
spend a lot of time on computers are more likely to develop early myopia. Jennifer Katzenstein,
director of psychology and neuropsychology at the Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, explains
that excessive screen time does not only lead to physical illnesses, but all mental health issues
such as depression, anxiety, and lack of perceived attention issues. Katzenstein further explains

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how students tend to have problems falling asleep, staying awake, and waking up, as well as
daily fatigue due to irregular sleep cycles. This may affect student’s progress and grades in
school.

5. Conclusion

Employing technology in education and its usefulness may be demonstrated by improving the
educational system in a variety of ways. It is established as an essential tool for enhancing
student learning. (Simmons & Markwell, 2001). Technology in education has both pros and
cons; kids are now being educated online due to Covid-19 and learning online has been
beneficial to some but not to others. Learning with technology gives students a new perspective,
helps students find the learning method that best works for them and allows them to study at

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their own pace. Technology not only helps students but teachers as well. Advanced technology
nowadays equips teachers with convenient methods of grading and analyzing students’
performance. According to Kapur, research can be carried out more easily with technology as it
provides us with numerous applications to help make tasks efficient (Kapur, 2019). Technology
has the potential to open other doors and bring new experiences. It will also lead to new world
findings. As much as technology is utilized for our benefit, there are many disadvantages to it as
well. Not everyone has the in-depth knowledge of working with electronic devices there are
individuals who have a hard time figuring out how to access these devices and might be in need
for training that is sometimes not provided by organizations. In addition, communication is made
difficult for students as they are unable to interact with classmates much. This could lead to
mental health issues like depression, and since students experience immense pressure from
teachers and parents as well, the stress caused would also lead to anxiety and sleeplessness. An
overall understanding is that technology offers both advantages and disadvantages when it comes
to learning and teaching. However, if we can figure out how to use technology in education
effectively, we can keep the negatives to a minimum.

References

Amrita Balram, 2020, The Johns Hopkins Newsletter. How online learning can affect student
health. [Online]. Available at: https://www.jhunewsletter.com/article/2020/04/how-
online-learning-can-affect-student-health (Accessed: 30th October).

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Borysiuk, A. (2013). Benefits and Disadvantages of the Use of Information Technologies in
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Renz, A. and Hilbig, R., 2020. Prerequisites for artificial intelligence in further education:
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