Academic Learning and digital technology

In general, this paper demonstrates a variety of positive benefits that result from the introduction of emerging technology to learning. Electronic resources, computers, programs, and tools that generate, store, and process information are all examples of digital technology. Smart computers, interoperable platforms, cloud computing, productivity tools, multimedia, web applications, and games, as well as social media, are examples of these. Digital technology can be seen everywhere. Furthermore, they appear to have many exciting resources for educational institutions, shaping how, when, and when education is provided. As a result, providing support to schools so as to create the greatest of new technologies is an important role of the work program of the Ministry. By 2016, nearly every school had access to the available technologies that offer ultrafast, high capacity, high-quality internet access for learning together with teaching. The use of digital technologies in learning has transformed the face of education, also generated further education opportunities. The educators, as well as students, have greatly benefited from several digital technologies; students are more interested in learning with technology and tutors have learned how to incorporate digital technologies into a classroom. Also, learners and teachers are able to collaborate using advanced education technologies. Despite the advantages of digital technologies, there are also disadvantages of using digital technologies in academic learning. For instance, they distract the attention of the students in the classroom. Students concentrate on their digital devices rather than paying attention to the teacher during the lectures.

Technologies unlock educational boundaries. The use of digital technologies promotes Online or Virtual Learning. Online learning is flexible unlike physical classrooms; this is because students from various geographical locations are able to attend a similar class without having to be physically present in the classroom. Virtual technology advancements have encouraged face-face communication between teachers along with students in the virtual world. A student is able to use virtual communication tools such as skype to ask their remote based educators questions easily. Also, the students can access information materials and education sources anywhere in the world. Several universities, as well as colleges, have blended their educational systems with online learning tools as it assists learners to learn from anywhere. Online learning has the possibility to enhance educational productivity through increasing learning rate by better utilizing time of teachers, decreasing the cost of instructional materials and learning after school hours.

Technologies simplify access to educational resources. Students are able to obtain access to open educational resources through using technology “Fortunately, the Internet and information technologies are helping us manage, search, and retrieve our collective intellectual output at different scales, from Twitter and previews to e-books and online encyclopedias” (Pinker, 561). Through the World-Wide-Web, the resources made to be freely available to every person. The educational resources comprise tutorials, instructions, educational videos, educational games, digital libraries, podcasts, electronic books among others. Teachers upload recorded lectures on video hosting podiums such as YouTube for easy access by students who missed lectures. Teachers and students can use Edtech Apps to access educational information through the use of cell phones. Also, teachers are utilizing clips online, and lesson videos in learning how other tutors are using technology in the classroom, these approaches or techniques uploaded by other expert teachers encourage individual-training. Students are provided with videos and free online lessons through websites such as 02 Learn, YouTube, and Teacher Tube; these videos are developed as well as uploaded by experienced educators.

Digital technologies enhance learning and writing skills of students. Using computers in the classroom have assisted several pupils to learn how to write well-composed paragraphs as well as sentences “but rather than leading to a new repertoire of writing styles, tones, and formats along with a range of abilities” (Lunsford, 572). Word processing applications present in the computers help students to take notes during lectures, and they also have built-in dictionaries that assist students in correcting grammar mistakes in sentences and auto correct spelling errors. Students likewise use a mobile application such as BUSUU and English teaching software. Students have been able to access grammar guides offered by qualified publishers and learn various languages online using BUSUU. Teachers support students to develop personal blogs through the use of WORDPRESS and BLOGGER that are some of the free blog publishing services. Students use these blogs to share with friends as well as express themselves; the procedure assists students in the writing of blog posts that are creative.

Technologies increase creativity and innovation of the students. Several teachers have revealed that assimilating technology in their classroom raises the participation of the students in the classroom. Thus, today they establish technological competitions in which learners are able to create small educational technologies such as mobile applications, smart-pens, robots, etc. These technological competitions in schools have improved innovation as well as creativity levels amongst students.

Use of digital technologies in learning improves collaboration between students and teachers. Using advanced communication technology in learning help educators connect with their students effortlessly, besides it similarly assists scholars to connect with fellow students and tutors in real-time. Educators may utilize mobile texting applications to text students concerning a forthcoming assessment and allocate them research subjects. EPals.com and other educational, social networks link learners with knowledgeable teachers; Pinterest and other social bookmarking sites assist students to follow along with collaborating with creative educators from all over the globe. This flexibility in communication, as well as interaction among students and teachers, assists students who are shy to enhance on their grades.

Despite the benefits of the use of digital technologies in learning and education, they also have disadvantages to the students. One major concern is that digital technologies have made students to be less patient readers, they now consider reading as boring. Also, technologies have greatly influenced how they absorb information. They are unable to read the books from page to page and from top to bottom since they are used to the internet where they can quickly scan through and search for information of their interest. “I don’t read books.” Says Joe O’Shea, a former president of the student body at Florida State University and a 2008 recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship. “I go to Google, and I can absorb relevant information quickly” (Carr,567). Technologies are addictive and distract the attention of the students in the classroom. Students concentrate on their digital devices rather than paying attention to the teacher during the lectures. For instance, they use their laptops to respond to Facebook messages, watch videos and play games during lessons. Students will not understand the content of the lesson. Thus, they eventually get bad grades for the specific subjects. Also, another major issue when it comes to the use of technology in school is the way it is easier to access and view violent, pornographic and other inappropriate materials. Studies indicate that students who sign up for online courses are less likely to benefit and have higher chances of dropping out of classes and failing.

In conclusion, it is evident that the benefits of the use of digital technologies in academic learning outweigh their disadvantages. However, the necessary measures should be taken to avoid the negative consequences of the technologies. For instance, students should have a specific time in which they can access and use the digital technologies for learning, and they should be restricted on what to access.

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas. "Hal and Me." The Shallows: How the Internet Is Changing the Way We Think, Read, and Remember: (2011).

Lunsford, Andrea A. "Our semi-literate youth? Not so fast." Report. Stanford University, nd. http://www. Stanford. Edu/group/SSW/CGI-bin/materials/OPED_Our_Semi-Literate_Youth. pdf (2013).

Pinker, Steven. "Mind over mass media." New York Times 10 (2010).