Description

For decades technology has been evolving and improving rapidly and is become increasingly integrated in everyday life. From my own experience I can attest as a university student, a large chunk of learning is now done online and is involving digital tools such as recorded lectures, textbooks and collaborative applications. According to Selwyn (2016), technology has significantly reshaped education by improving flexibility and access to learning resources, with information now more available than ever before, allowing for more flexible and interactive learning. However, is all of this needed and good for our future?

 

 

Feelings

A first reaction, technology in education can be viewed as fully positive.

Information is readily available and students can catch up from personal matters such as illness, and personal commitments. It has made communication between student-teacher and student-student more streamlined and study more efficient.

However, there is a growing concern around over-reliance, where technology can also become a distraction and overwhelming for students.

 

 

Evaluation

Technology provides clear advantages in education. It increases the access to learning resources and allows students to be more collaborative with each other in increasingly creative ways. It stimulates students in multiple ways. However, there are clearly seen drawbacks. Wilmer et.al (2017) argue that increased reliance on digital devices can negatively impact attention and memory. Students are becoming increasingly dependent on technology, and handwriting skills are declining over time. Additionally, generative AI may reduce independent thinking by encouraging reliance on pre-existing information. Social media and digital distractions also reduce focus and contribute to broader social challenges among students. Overall tightened ideas.

 

 

Analysis

 

Education, as a key social and cultural institution, reflects broader societal changes, including the integration of technology. These tools allow education and broader society  learning to become more flexible and accessible, enabling students to work at their own pace and connect with global knowledge. However, research suggests that constant digital engagement can reduce attention span and encourage more surface-level understanding. . For example, online platforms allow for people to work at a comfortable pace and access global knowledge networks.

. Rather than addressing multiple issues at once, one key concern is the increasing dependence on technology. This reliance may limit students’ ability to develop deep thinking and memory retention skills. As a result, educators must balance technological innovation with strategies that promote meaningful engagement and critical thinking

 

 

Conclusion

 

While it offers benefits such as improved accessibility and opportunities for learning, these can be outweighed if not managed effectively. This highlights the importance of teaching students how to use technology responsibly, recognising that while it is powerful, it is not a complete solution.

 

 

Action Plan

As a future educator, there is imperative weight resting on my shoulder to integrate technology in a meaningful and thoughtful way to support an interactive and positive learning environment.

I will use digital tools to enhance learning while encouraging independent thinking and discussion.

However, I recognise to not give students and over-reliance and help students improve their own skills in a traditional sense focusing on more traditional methods as emphasised by Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (2017), effective teaching involves using technology in ways that genuinely support student learning rather than replace it.