Roi Kobe M.

Mallare | STEM-201

THESIS STATEMENT:
Innovation to education brought by integrating technology into class discussions is beneficial for
both students and teachers. It may cause student to lose focus and teachers to stagnate, but it can
also make classes fun and engaging.

Education Technology: A better kind of teaching?

In the 21st century, the world is turning into something different, where technology is the
key. The technological revolution has impacted almost every aspect of life today, and education is
no exception. Knowledge is at the tip of human hands, anyone can search for something they want
to learn about and it will be available readily, it makes traditional education and books seems like
an archaic institution. But class discussions already evolved a lot, technology was integrated to
education to adapt to the advancing world. Technology is already spreading through classrooms
like wildfire as educators and developers create more and more products and software designed to
enhance education. In the Philippines, education technology or EdTech is not that utilized yet but
the DepEd is already working on encouraging the use of ICT in classrooms and they are aware of
its possible repercussions. “Just like any learning material, the introduction of tablets in the school
system should be properly monitored and their use be guided by teachers for them to be maximized
as efficient learning tools,” the DepEd said. Using EdTech can be both beneficial and harmful,
but does the pros heavily outweigh the cons? Or should education stick to what is traditional and
working?
First, what is EdTech? According to the Association for Educational Communications and
Technology (AECT), Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating
learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological
processes and resources. In short, it is the use of technology inside the classroom. Usually, using
smartphone inside the classroom is strongly prohibited but in today’s modern era, it is already part
of the system. Smartphones can be the vehicle to connect the student and the teacher, from the use
of apps to provide quizzes, educational videos, activities and many more. EdTech is making
discussions easier for the teacher and with the students being part of the “Digital Natives” or people
born in the age of digital technology, learning is bound to be more enjoyable too as technology is
already a part of their lives. But there is an argument though, will using technology as the driving
factor of class discussion dampen class dynamics? Will it diminish a teacher’s role? Will it make
students too accustomed and instead be distracted by the many other things that technology could
provide? One thing is for sure, EdTech is already booming and it will rapidly grow as more
countries are exposed to technology.
 The concerns about using EdTech highlight the student’s focus and teachers stagnating. Many
schools and teachers fear that if students are handed a tablet or allowed to use their phones during
a lecture, it can become a distraction rather than helpful for learning. Many tablets are actually
bound to a specific program, but some smart students are able to bypass this by peeking into the
system and finding a hole in the security and obviously not all schools can provide tablets so they
instead allow phones which are far more open to distractions because of entertaining apps like
Youtube, mobile games and social media sites. Another issue with EdTech is that more cheating
can occur, whether it be copy pasting or searching on the internet for the answer instead of actually
answering it. EdTech also hamper social interactions as classroom activities such as reports,
brainstorming and any activity that requires teamwork will be gone because it is all about
technology now. Another is that many schools are afraid that EdTech is simply not for them, after
all not everyone are privileged enough to experience technology at home. Some of these students
prefer traditional teaching rather. Finally, technology can cause educators to lose their will to teach
as their role in teaching will diminish albeit be easier. The truth is teachers spent many years
improving their craft and all of it will be wasted if they can’t showcase it and EdTech takes the
driver’s seat. But are the cons of using EdTech enough to justify not utilizing it?
If there are cons, then there are pros too. EdTech is providing a way for learning to be
personalized, each student can learn at their own pace. The pressure and struggles of a normal class
are repelled. Teachers lose their importance, but a professional says otherwise. CEO of Silicon
Schools Brian Greenberg said that "technology is important, but it's really just the means to an
end. The real magic is in giving great educators freedom and license into how school works." The
teacher is actually a big factor if it will be successful as their creativity will decide what way can
they utilize it. A teacher can do a lot with technology and if they can maximize its potential then
teaching will be more effective. EdTech can also make students assume more responsibility in the
classroom, with this everyone will participate because the teacher will not only choose one hand
that is raised but instead, everyone can and will answer. “There's an increasing push for students
to take more ownership and have more involvement into how they learn," said Greenberg. EdTech
can provide that. It enables students to take charge. Another significant benefit is its ability to
simulate. If money and time constraints are the challenges schools face, then they can use virtual
fieldtrips, videos or look for images on the internet, with this it mirrors the way we learn outside.
It can also reflect real-world issues as everything can be researched. EdTech also supports working
groups or online brainstorming as well as teachers as coaches even at the comfort of your home.
Finally, the wider and diverse information that can be accessed with ease. There are millions or
billions of pages full of information for everyone to see. This is the most important benefit of using
EdTech. According to Greenberg, “The real purpose of education is for the brain to be empowered
with information.” and EdTech does a tremendous job at that.
The potential and promise of ICT use in education is clear. Even with its cons, EdTech
can really help revolutionize education and adapt it for the future. The pros heavily outweigh the
cons, because its disadvantages can be nullified if its usage will be proper. After all, it all depends
on the how the teachers will utilize this. So, with proper guidance and correct use, EdTech will be
the future of education.