Importance of Educational Technology - Tahani Yassin.docx

Introduction ============ In today's world eLearning has grown into a vital element of modern teaching and training. Technology is immersed in our daily life with various tools and methodologies that cater diverse learning needs. As educational institutions progress, the integration of technology i...

Introduction ============ In today's world eLearning has grown into a vital element of modern teaching and training. Technology is immersed in our daily life with various tools and methodologies that cater diverse learning needs. As educational institutions progress, the integration of technology in K-12 and in higher education prepares students for a rapidly changing world. However, while Ed tech has a lot of benefits there are also significant challenges. Recent studies by Pew Research Center have shown that using technology empowers students' learning experiences and outcomes. This essay will argue the case that integrating technology in the educational field is vital for students' engagement, improve learning outcomes, and provide students with the skills needed for their future. (Pew Research Center, 2018) Benefits of Educational Technology**\ **Ed tech offers a lot of benefits for all educators and students. Some of these benefits are: individualized instructions, equalizing educational opportunity, enhancing learning outcomes, promoting engagement, lowering textbook and tuition prices, meeting the problem of Mass education and preparing students for the future. For instance, Khan academy can be used for flipped learning and can also help in tailoring the explanation to students' needs.**\ ** Enhancing and promoting students Engagement ------------------------------------------- Engaging students in the educational field is an important aspect in the modern teaching methods. Technology fosters greater student engagement. Ed tech tools such as Kahoot, JamBoard, Miro, coggle and Mentimeter are a big aid to create a dynamic learning environment that encourage participation. For example, I work as an education a trainer and consultant and provide online workshops where I always integrate ED tech tools for collaboration and communication between the educators to train them to integrate these tools in their learning process. Figure : JamBoard integrated in the classrooms for sharing ideas According to a study by the *International Society for Technology in Education*, classrooms that utilize interactive technology such as Kahoot, significantly enhances student engagement in the classroom. (International Society for Technology in Education \[ISTE\], 2020) Improve Learning Outcomes ------------------------- Studies have shown that engaging students in the learning process using Edtech tools result in increasing their grades and better retention of information. Recent studies have showed improvement of the learning outcomes and scores for the students, thus maximizing the student's; achievement. Provide students with the skills needed for the future ------------------------------------------------------ Digital literacy is one of the paramount in the 21^st^ century skills. Technology equips the students with programs that enhances the skills needed for the future such as critical thinking, Creativity, collaboration, communication, data analysis... Challenges ========== While the benefits of Edtech are clear and many, there are several challenges that should be addressed. Some of these challenges are funding, support for high tech skills, widen society in equity gaps to access technology, professional development for educators, digital divide, managing distractions,... Additionally, this rapid change requires teachers to invest a lot of their time and effort in learning for new tools, designing modern activities that align with 21^st^ century skills to maximize the potential and impact of technology in education. Challenges of Managing Distractions Students having access to multiple Edtech tools and still being able to focus on the educational part is not as easy as it seems. Teachers have noted distractions by non-educational content. However, by implementing strict guidance and monitoring from the educators and parents , these distractions ca be lessened. Furthermore, implementing in the curriculum Edtech tools that limits distractions, such as focus mode applications or classroom management softwares can ensure that our students and only engaged digitally with the educational tasks. Ensuring Equitable Digital Access --------------------------------- The digital divide and digital access remain as serious concerns especially in public schools and lower income communities. Addressing these issues requires investments in the infrastructure of the school to support their students from diverse background and levels. In fact, technology can not be fully successful if we do not guarantee equitable access. To overcome this challenge, the educators need to evaluate the use of the computer devices in their schools, the schools need to open computer labs since not all the students have equitable access to technology which prevent them from being able to collaborate or check the school's online library and materials. In addition to that accommodations for student with special needs should also be prioritized by offering accessible devices, adaptive technologies, and personalized learning tools, ensuring equity in using the digital resources. The figure below shows the connectivity in California and how it has steadily improved. A big portion still relies on the phones for internet access which is a challenge in the easiness of reading and limitations of ability to fully engage.  Figure : Broadband adoption in California (2008-2023), showing overall connectivity, **\ Conclusion** In conclusion, Ed tech is no longer optional, on the contrary it plays a bog role in k-12 and higher education. Integrating technology in the educational field offers numerous benefits on enhancing all 21^st^ century skills needed for our kids to prepare them for the life and future trends in education. However, we still need to be aware of all the challenges, address them, set plans to overcome them. Thus, educators and educational institutions can create more equitable and effective learning and teaching environment for success in the demands and needs for the technological world. The use of new technology can present opportunities for the process of teaching, learning, and evaluation, but it also poses difficulties for teacher preparation programs and professional development. **\.** References ========== Annenberg Research Network on International Communication \[ARNIC\]. (2023). 2023 Statewide Digital Equity Survey: Broadband adoption in California. Retrieved from https://arnicusc.org/2023-statewide-digital-equity-survey/ Google. (n.d.). Jamboard. Retrieved from https://jamboard.google.com International Society for Technology in Education \[ISTE\]. (2020). Leveraging technology to support student engagement. Retrieved from https://www.iste.org Pew Research Center. (2018). The impact of digital tools on student learning. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org