Technology as an Effective Teaching Tool Research Paper (Essay Sample)

Is technology an effective teaching tool?
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Introduction
The world has been fully impacted by technology where all sectors in the world have been impact in one way or another. One of the key sectors that have been massively been influenced by technology is education sector. Old teaching practices have not been replaced by new technological ways of teaching. However, a big question remains on whether technology has impacted education sector positively based on technology has as a teaching tool. There have been mixed reactions from different stakeholders in education sector while one group argues that technology is an effective teaching tool based on its impact in general students’ performance (Ertmer, pg.60). On the other hand, the second group argues that technology is not an effective teaching. It is very hard to take a position on this argument but after critical analysis of the concept of technology as a teaching tool, it is evident that technology is an effective teaching tool. The objective of this essay is to support that technology is an effective teaching tool.
To start with, technology as a teaching tool acts as supplements other teaching tools. For many years, teachers have been using hardcopy tools such as books, blackboards and other teaching materials (Ertmer, pg. 56). However, technology has come up with many teachings tool which have made teaching easy and effective. Teaching using the same tools for many years brings monotony among students and also teachers thus making education boring and ineffective. Technology has brought new tools which are interesting and convenient. For instance, teaching has been supplemented with graphics, video clips, software among other teachings tools. This has made teaching and as the same time learning interesting and easy. This is the main reason why technology is an effective teaching tool.
Technology as a teaching tool has also facilitated online teaching thus breaking geographical barrier in education sector. The use of technology in schools and other learning institution has greatly led to the easy transfer of knowledge and information across the students and teachers (Bauer, pg. 519). With the new technological advancements, students can learn away from school, tackle their assignments and even take their evaluation tests online and submit them the same way. Various learning institutions now offer online learning or better known as e-learning or distant for those students who wish to study in their institutions but the challenge of geographical barrier exists. The institutions ensure that the online students receive the necessary materials for their studies and provide the dates for various activities and programs in the school. With effective teaching integration and student cooperation, the online learning strategies have proved to be advantageous to both the learners and the teachers as it has eased the education process thereby saving time and resources at the same time. The students studying from home get to save their travelling costs and the time that they would take to travel to and from school. The distance learning also enables the teachers to spread a wide variety of knowledge to different students in different geographical areas simultaneously.
The use of technology in education also motivates students. A study by (Cradler, pg. 22), showed that teachers reported increased motivation in the students when electronic learning was introduced in their schools. This was due to their willingness to work with technology and sideline the usual classroom setting that includes boring lectures. The new technology motivated the students to learn more using the technological platform. The study (Cradler, pg. 22), also states that students were motivated by the technology due to the urge of mastering the use of technology and incorporating it in to their lives.
The use of technology increases the self-esteem of the learner and makes them excited about going to school.
Technology has also given an opportunity for the students and teachers to learn from a very broad perspective of the alternative learning skills. Instead of having the usual lecture notes and boring classes, the student gets to be active in learning in the broad area of study. A study by (Lawless, pg. 579) showed that students were able to handle more complex assignments and tests after the introduction of electronic learning. This proved that students could achieve more with the capabilities brought about by technology. Since the students are motivated to learn and gain more knowledge, they would easily transfer the knowledge from one student to another and take pride in the sharing of useful information. The sharing of information with teachers and fellow students assists in gaining knowledge through various sources.
The use of technology has also proved to be effective as it has been convenient, the aspect of students carrying heavy backpacks, binders and text books are not efficient. In a practical way, a lightweight laptop weighs less than five pounds and has an internal memory storage capability of over one million illustrated pages. In addition to the great opportunity of storage space, the laptop can access the internet and provide an unlimited source of information from a wide variety of topics (Ringstaff, pg. 11). This plan can work especially in young students who go through a hard time in carrying the required text books and other academic materials which are heavy. Education combined with technology is the greatest advancement in the education sector and has proved to be in fancy since it came into the picture. The effectiveness of technology in the education sector can be further improved by exposing children to educative technology at early development stages.
Development in the education sector brought about by technology has also raised the standards of learning and made access to information simple and fast. Through technology, students can now access online libraries and get academic materials for free in just few and easy steps. The internet supports various operational and experimental services and the online library is one of those services (Ertmer, pg. 257). Plenty of data can be acquired in the online library. As part of the curriculum in Information Technology, the students are required to regard computers as tools to be utilized in all aspects of studying. The online libraries provide materials for the students to use in communicating ideas, describing projects and placing order of information on their work. The online libraries also have updated and new information that is captured on a daily basis thus providing up-to-date information to students and teachers.
Technology has eased the process of collaborative learning in the education sector. It is now easier for students to ...