Regardless of how you feel about it, we are undoubtedly living in a technology-driven world. Since the internet became widely accessible in the early 2000s and continuously developed in the following years, the world of education changed forever.

Nowadays, we use the internet so regularly that it is easy to forget all of the areas of our lives that it touches. We use it to communicate, research, find recipes or watch films online. It holds the answers to nearly any question you can think up, whether mundane or complex. However, one area that has been affected by the internet most is the education system. The internet is now a tool utilized in schools across the country, but how has it changed learning? And is it for the best? Read on to learn more.

Accessibility

In days gone by, students and teachers had to be physically located in the same space to learn and teach. With the internet, we can communicate in real-time across great distances, so this is no longer the case. This has never been clearer than during the past year. The coronavirus pandemic led to nationwide restrictions that meant most teaching moved onto online platforms like Zoom. 

If you take a look at higher education, the ability to learn remotely has made online degrees more prominent in the modern world. These generally have much lower fees than standard higher education offers, making education at this level much more accessible.

Additionally, modern technology has facilitated the rise of online tutoring. Now, using services like those offered by Tutor House, you can find online tutors easily and affordably. This has allowed many students struggling in specific areas to receive one-on-one guidance for topics they aren’t comfortable with. Having a private tutor was once something that many couldn’t afford, but thanks to the power of the internet, it is more accessible than ever.

Flexibility

The flexibility of online learning goes hand-in-hand with the accessibility of education. The rise of online lessons during the pandemic freed up students from attending classes at specific times. Sometimes, as we all know, family or work commitments can get in the way of attending a class. However, when lessons and learning materials are distributed online, students are free to study at times that suit them. Generally, as long as pupils complete work by the deadline set by the teacher, they can have more freedom to plan their work around their schedule.

This hits on one of the most significant impacts of technology on education: it has opened doors for those who might struggle to attend traditional schools. For example, it can be challenging to fit an education into your schedule if you are working full-time. Now, thanks to online solutions, you can study alongside your job.  

The higher degree of flexibility has also changed the rigid classroom structure that was ever present in academia. Previously, many students found it hard because their education was the same as everyone else’s, regardless of differing needs or abilities. This left many students with their needs not being met in traditional education. Now, with advances in technology, the requirements of all students can be met. This means people with speaking, hearing or seeing impairments can receive high-quality education tailored to their specific needs.  Additionally, students with social, intellectual and developmental disabilities can now receive an education suited to their unique situation.

Interactive Learning

Traditional methods of teaching and learning are often built on the idea of the passive uptake of information. Students will often sit and listen as a teacher lectures, or take notes from a textbook. These methods provide minimal scope for interactivity and engagement with this form of learning unless the student is particularly interested in the subject.

Using technology as a learning tool can make education far more interactive. It allows students to interact directly with models and videos, navigate websites or actively research online. For example, rather than learning from a book, a student can engage with interactive tools that make the process less monotonous. This improves results, as well as the student’s interest in the topic.

Online Testing

The increased popularity of learning via the internet has also seen a corresponding rise in online testing. This has been beneficial for many reasons.

Firstly, online testing uses rigid mark schemes, making it wholly impartial and much fairer than traditional marking. When a machine does the grading on a test while correcting mistakes and wrong answers, no one can suggest that it is biased in any way.

Also, online testing can make examinations much more accessible for those who suffer from test-related anxiety. Some students find taking an exam in a large room full of their peers very distressing. When a test is done online, however, it can mitigate this issue.

While some test forms lend themselves very well to online testing, it isn’t suited for others. While multiple-choice exams work very well in this format, short answer questions or essay-based tests are not as suitable. These can still be done online, but a human will need to grade them.

Adaptable Syllabus

In a conventional learning environment, the primary resources available for students and teachers are textbooks. While these are certainly useful in some circumstances, they have their limitations. When an online approach is taken to learning, it is possible to adapt the curriculum to better suit current events and scenarios.

Textbooks take a substantial amount of time to write and publish, meaning the published content can become obsolete as soon as it gets to the classroom! With the current rate of change in sectors like technology, even if content is just a couple of years out of date, it may as well be decades old.

Using technology, teachers can actively update their syllabus to factor in modern innovations and current events. This can help students to have a better understanding of the world that they live in and allows them to avoid learning out of date material.

Preparation for a Tech-Based World

One advantage of online education over traditional schooling is that it can help prepare students for an increasingly digital world. While students need to learn how to compellingly communicate in a face-to-face manner, the reality is that the internet is here to stay. It will likely be equally important for people to have an understanding of digital communication methods.  When students leave the education system and move into full-time employment, it is almost certain they will have to use online tools like conferencing or collaboration software in their day-to-day lives. Therefore, including these systems in how we teach the next generation will help develop young minds that are confident and capable of utilizing modern technology to its fullest extent.

Ultimately, this is likely one of the most important aspects of integrating technology into education. It can build a life-long understanding of the power of technology; creating more tech-savvy generations for the years to come.