“Alexa, what is the capital of Australia?” Remember this TV commercial that made Alexa- the virtual personal assistant, a household name? That’s how deep technology has permeated into our lives.

Education, being one of the most important aspects of our lives, has also been equally impacted by technology. In this 21st century, significant changes are occurring related to new scientific discoveries, globalization, development of astronautics, robotics and artificial intelligence. This century is called the age of digital technologies and knowledge and the most observable phenomenon of this century is the “Internetization” of society and the penetration of digital technologies into learning.

As we see, digital technologies are changing our way of life, ways of communication, way of thinking, feelings, channels of influence on other people, social skills, and social behaviour. While we might be digital migrants but today’s school kids have never known a world without touch screens. And to engage this generation of learners, we need some new tricks up our sleeves.

Learning in the 21st century

Since today’s generation is so tech-savvy, students get engaged with what they are doing with technology to improve their learning outcomes.

While it broadens the horizons of many learners by making them connect to the entire world and contributing to collaborative learning, it has become a challenge for the teachers to accommodate technology in their teaching-learning process. Our challenge, however, is not to dismiss or keep up with students’ latest technological know-how, but to create meaningful learning experiences in which students are taught how to apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems.

One of the XSEED SuperTeacher contest 2019 semi-finalists, Ms. Tiala Abigail Theyagaraj of Eden Academy, Nagaland shared her opinion about technology in education. She doesn’t see it as a challenge but feels today’s children are much aware, thanks to technology. She feels, as a result, classroom discussions have also become better.

Most tech-savvy teachers like Tiala give topmost priority to their learning objectives and then think about tools that can assist them in accomplishing those learning objectives for their students.

So, how do we use technology to make teaching and learning easier?

From textbooks to laptops and whiteboards to smart boards, digital technologies continue to propel higher education forward. Instant access to information and various types of media and course materials create a more dynamic and collaborative learning experience. To stay relevant in a class full of tech-savvy learners, teachers need to consistently innovate in order to create more effective ways to enhance the classroom experience. Embracing new technologies can help us achieve this and also expand education’s reach.

From digital course materials to virtual classrooms, today, we have access to many digital tools that enhance a student’s learning experience. But we must realize one thing: digital learning is not an educator’s replacement, but a tool that only enhances a teacher’s efforts to bring out the best in students.

Therefore, instead of completely brushing it aside or totally letting it take over, we must arrive at a mutual learning programme, wherein we utilize technology in our instructional materials as per its relevance to the subjects we teach. We can also explore the internet to teach students the same concepts in various ways. This is extremely helpful for those students who need extra help and guidance.

Short video clips are a good way to provide students with visuals to help clarify concepts and bring relevancy to a lesson. And the internet being home to almost everything under the sun helps teach students one concept in many different and engaging way with real-life examples.

Another interesting digital tool that can be effectively used as a learning resource by teachers is a video game. Though it is often seen as a distraction by both teachers and parents, they are an interactive approach to education.

Conclusion

Technology might be taking up a lot of space in our lives, but it is best when used in application, not isolation. What works best is the right mix of textbook, activities and digital resources to impart relevant and effective education to children in the classrooms. Textbooks explain the concept theoretically. Activities help experience the concepts practically and digital resources only further enhance or reiterate the concept in a fun and engaging way. Most tech-savvy educators believe that technology does not replace good pedagogy.

And I completely agree with Mr. Temsu Jamir, Principal of Eden Academy, who believes “By being cautious with the use of technology like XSEED Education does, and by adapting the needs of the market and environment in our education style, we can bring out the best in our students.”

So, in our quest to stay relevant in today’s digitized world, and make a difference to our students’ lives in the best possible way, let’s empower ourselves with technology and make it work for us.

XSEED works with schools as an academic partner providing a complete solution for developing 21^st century skills in children. Designed and curated by over 200 strong and dedicated R&D professionals, our solutions address every aspect of your academic need – micro curriculum, teacher and leader training, books and workbooks, assessment, and technology. For more information, visit xseededucation.com or call us at 1800 102 7200 (toll free number)

This blog also appears under the heading “Are you a tech-savvy teacher?”