Opinion | NTD: Integrating Technology in the Classroom – The Future of Education!

Gone are the days when teachers used to give lectures and students used to hurriedly take notes. In the 21st century, technology for schools is a driving force in education. Schools are rapidly adopting technology-based teaching. Technology for schools is becoming the foremost concern of school administrators. They are coming up with smart boards in the classroom, projectors, smart tables and integrated learning systems. These technological advancements in the education sector are necessary to prepare students for their careers.

Technology integration is the incorporation of technology resources and technology-based practices into the daily routines, work, and management of schools. Technology resources are computers and specialized software, network-based communication systems, and other equipment and infrastructure. Practices include collaborative work and communication, Internet-based research, remote access to instrumentation, network-based transmission and retrieval of data, and other methods.  Integrating technology is what comes next after making the technology available and accessible. It is a goal-in-process, not an end state. The goal of perfect technology integration is inherently unreachable: technologies change and develop, students and teachers come and go-things change. It is the process by which people and their institutional setting adapt to the technology that matters most. The process of technology integration is one of continuous change, learning, and (hopefully) improvement. Developing a culture that embraces technology is also important to its successful integration; for example, sending important messages by e-mail, or encouraging staff to use electronic calendars to schedule meetings, fosters a culture that accepts technology as “natural” to the business of everyday work.
Integrated learning systems accelerate the learning process of the students. Technology for schools incorporates the use of unique approach in-class activities using multimedia content and this develops a learning eagerness among the students. Through the means of technology for schools, teachers can create, and modify the curriculum as per students’ needs and preferences. In many integrated systems, students can also rearrange their courses as per their own routine. It allows anytime access to education. With the use of smart boards in the classroom, communication between teachers and students increases. Teachers can engage students as they work together to solve a problem. Technology for schools enhances one-to-one interaction between students and teachers even in a classroom of high student strength. An integrated learning system is a set of hardware and software systems used to deliver educational content and manage every aspect of educational institutions. Most providers of technology for schools, provide some form of supervisory and assessment tools. Integrated learning systems offer seamless integration of all school functions and allow easy access through a simple app that can be installed on a mobile phone. New technology creates new opportunities in every sphere of life. Implementing technology for schools is essentially an example of such an opportunity. The use of technology incorporates rapid learning, promoting collaboration between students and teachers. Tools that are a part of technology for schools, like smart boards, smart tables, and projectors enhance the learning and teaching experience. The use of an integrated learning system ensures a better-structured curriculum. Schools must understand that with a changing environment they need to change their traditional approach to teaching. The present post-pandemic time is the best opportunity for schools to upgrade into integrated learning systems. Technology provides instant accessibility to information, which is why its presence in the classroom is so vital. Smart phones, computers, and tablets are already an omnipresent element of everyday life for students and teachers alike. It’s only natural that the use of technological devices in the classroom is explored to create meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages.
Utilizing different types of technology in the classroom, including a virtual classroom, creates learners who are actively engaged with learning objectives. The implementation of technology also creates pathways for differentiated instruction to meet the unique needs of students as individual learners within a broader classroom climate. PowerPoint presentations can be used to introduce a classroom concept while providing the opportunity for engagement. Along with the use of graphics and bulleted information, links to videos that accompany the ideas presented in the Power point can be embedded within the slides. Posting homework assignments online (via learning platforms like Blackboard, Bright space, and Moodle) is one way many teachers can begin to integrate technology in the classroom. Assignments are easily accessible, which can increase student engagement and help students become more organized. Communication is a key element in education that helps teachers, administrators, parents, and students recognize a student’s strengths and areas for improvement. Online grading systems such as PowerSchool open and facilitate lines of communication where teachers can post grades, analyse student attendance patterns, and manage transcript data. Technology provides students with easy-to-access information, accelerated learning, and fun opportunities to practice what they learn. It enables students to explore new subjects and deepen their understanding of difficult concepts, particularly in STEM. Through the use of technology inside and outside the classroom, students can gain 21st-century technical skills necessary for future occupations. Educational technology can foster collaboration. Not only can teachers engage with students during lessons, but students can also communicate with each other. Through online lessons and learning games, students get to work together to solve problems. In collaborative activities, students can share their thoughts and ideas and support each other. At the same time, technology enables one-on-one interaction with teachers. Students can ask classroom-related questions and seek additional help on difficult-to-understand subject matter. At home, students can upload their homework, and teachers can access and view completed assignments using their laptops.
WAYS TO INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
The benefits of technology can enhance any contemporary classroom. However, the way technology is implemented and used in classrooms of various grade levels and content areas will differ. For younger students, technology can be used to build fundamental skills to prepare them for future independent learning. Students can use interactive games to reinforce math, spelling, phonetic, and reading skills. Sites like Spelling Training permit students or teachers to upload their own word lists to practice word pronunciation and create interactive games. Parents can also use these sites to exercise fundamental skills beyond the walls of the classroom. As students begin to take steps to transform into independent thinkers, they can use technology to develop basic life skills. Students at the middle school level will gain independence by having different teachers for each subject. Using technology to acquire skills such as conducting research can be applied to any content area. Websites like Easy Bib guide students to find credible sources through a variety of search engines and teach students to correctly cite those sources to avoid plagiarism. Once students reach their secondary education, they can discover ways to use technology that can be beneficial for college and career development. Familiarization with Microsoft Office and Google Drive teaches students to make spreadsheets, slide show presentations, and share documents where they can receive fluid feedback on their work. Many careers use these elements of Microsoft and Google to organize information and collaborate between colleagues or clients. Active engagement is a key part of any lesson plan. Whether students are working independently or collaboratively, technology engages students because it is interactive. Not all students learn and retain information in the same way or at the same speed. Technology is an opportunity for teachers to differentiate instruction to modify information for the appropriate learning capabilities of their students. The use of technology can also allow students to work at their own paces.
Teachers want to improve student performance, and technology can help them accomplish this aim. To mitigate the challenges, administrators should help teachers gain the competencies needed to enhance learning for students through technology. Additionally, technology in the classroom should make teachers’ jobs easier without adding extra time to their day. Technology for schools is an integral part of making schools future-ready. By leveraging the right technology for schools, you can also make your school ready for the technology recommendations provided by NEP 2020.
– The writer from Srinagar, Kashmir, J&K, is a regular writer for this newspaper and can be reached at specialachivers78@gmail.com