Pragya Kandpal is a member of the Internet 2.0 Conference’s organizing team. The conference, which will take place in 2022, will bring together some of the most influential tech experts and leaders to shine a light on technological breakthroughs, scam and fraud prevention on the internet, and the latest happenings in the realms of artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing and augmented reality.
EdTech: How Tech Is Revolutionizing Learning
The spread of the deadly virus, COVID-19, brought with it the threat of destruction on a mass scale. It surely limited opportunities for many but also taught a common person to deal with circumstances by learning to make the best out of them. As talked about at several tech events, such as the Internet 2.0 Conference, one of the additions was the combination of IT tools and education practices, which widely came to be known as EdTech (Educational Technology).
The change from conventional classroom structure to remote (online) structure shifted the entire education dynamics for better and for worse. It enhanced the learning experiences for many students and teachers but limited the same for those who couldn’t afford the expenses. Due to the immense growth in technology, 92% of the teachers have claimed that it will play an essential role in education in the coming years, which makes it important for everyone to investigate the basics of EdTech.
What Is Edtech?
Ed-Tech, the combination of Education and Technology is an enhanced teaching-learning process, which includes diverse IT tools to introduce new experiences to the education system. It provides the freedom to access education from anywhere, anytime, and at an individual pace. Though still developing, it promises a brighter future for the coming generations with customized provisions for the students.
Why Should We Look Forward To Edtech?
• Learning anytime, anywhere
The ease of using phones and tablets from either homes, buses, or schools makes it easier to understand lessons from literally anywhere at any convenient time.
• Increased participation
Knowledge is gained through various audio-visual aids, ultimately making monotonous lessons interesting for the teachers and the students. This, in return, grabs the attention of the students for a longer period of time.
• Unbiased grading system
EdTech helps incorporate automated tests such as fill-in-the-blanks, MCQs, and quizzes along with essay-type question-answers, all of which create space for an unbiased and more reliable grading system.
What Should We Look Out For In Edtech?
• Expensive for some people
Even though educational technology cuts off many expenses such as travel, electricity, infrastructural and more, it may not be affordable for every household to purchase a smartphone. This way of education may benefit a lot of people, but those from the economically weaker sections would have to face certains drawbacks.
• On-screen addictions amongst students
EdTech definitely ensures better learning experiences that are more interactive, entertaining, and engaging but it could prompt a student to spend the entire day in front of a screen. Lack of physical exercise causes a strain on their mental, emotional, and intellectual levels altogether.
Final Thoughts On Edtech:
EdTech has proved to be a blessing; however, it also raises several concerns, which have been discussed at length at several post-COVID technology conferences in the USA. The establishment of technological tools in traditional education systems to assist and replace the system brings in diverse perspectives and opportunities for both the teachers and the students. It is essential to stay up to date with the changes being brought into society but with appropriate provisions for supervision for the well-being of all.