Bridging the Gap: Technology and Education

 

Going through the course materials in the order that they were presented for this first week. I eventually came across the next video featuring Mr. Winkle. As I started to watch, the story quickly became comically predictable - So far, we have learnt that technology is desperately missing in the classroom - Therefore, when Mr. Winkles wakes up from his 100-year slumber and starts going from one place of employment to another it dawned on me that he would eventually enter a school and find that nothing had really changed in all those years. And that is exactly what happened.

A sense of sympathy emerges with the story and highlights the mismatch between the level of technology we have today that is widely accessible to young people who are very skilled in it and more able than their elders and the level of technology used in the classroom.

This leads to a broader point. I think cross-curricular understanding in schools need to be developed, meaning that students need to know that you can use computers in art or math, or that English can be used in math and vice versa. In light of this, technology - whether computers, cameras, phones and apps - can be used in all subjects to help engage students and make learning fun and more relevant in our age.

Students readily adapt to change and I’m sure teachers can too with the right training. The video where Thomas Friedman discusses his book “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century” explains that technology in its various forms have developed progressively allowing a level playing field for countries, businesses and even individuals. If you want to be relevant in the 21^st century you need to be adaptable and be able to pick up new skills on a continual basis. This thought can be extended or applied to our context of education in the classroom where teachers need to use methods that prepare students for this levelling that is inevitably taking place. This in turn requires continuous training.

It was interesting what Thomas Friedman said regarding parenting. He states that parents need to support their children and encourage them to put in the effort to succeed to the best of their ability. In a world where it is increasingly becoming a level playing field, advantages like location or attendance at prestigious colleges may not mean so much if little effort results in mediocre outcomes. More able candidates in low-income countries who put in more effort and gain top grades can now easily access the same jobs and opportunities from across the globe.

The downside to using technology is still an issue today. Experience has shown that students can make excuses for not doing their homework because they have lost their login information or that they don’t have access to computers or other forms of technology. While some of these issues are valid, they also highlight the digital divide and the need for equitable access to technology. Other disadvantages include leaving the under skilled behind. What will happen to them? The same applies to the classroom - what can those who are not technologically able do in the future?

Friedman realized that the outcome of this flattening is hard to predict, but the key takeaways are investing in education, global awareness and working together through collaboration and creativity.

In conclusion, while technology holds immense potential to transform education, its impact depends on thoughtful integration, equitable access, and the ongoing development of teachers, students and parents.