Using Technology in Education
Abstract
Education has seen the widespread introduction of technology within it over the years. Governments of some countries have spent billions of dollars toward the adoption of technology in institutions. Technology play a huge role in almost all corners of educational institutions, right from kindergarten to universities. This research focusses on the reason why educational institutions have adopted technology and the challenges that they experience using them.
USING TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Introduction
Over the past, technology has changed the world; through expanding opportunities in communication, business, education and even governance. In this age, schools must educate their student in the use and application of the different forms of technology in order for them to keep up with the developments. According to Negroponte, computing has ceased just being about computers but are now a way of living (Nicholas, 1996)).The topic is relevant to UAE, and the world as a whole. The adoption of technology in the education sector is inevitable. In order to adapt to the changing times, technology needs to be incorporated in learning; both teaching and studying. We can make learning easier, enjoyable and easily accessible through technology.In this paper, I aim to discuss and analyze the use of technology in the education sector. To reveal the extent of the use of technology in education, we evaluate the motivating factors and the barriers faced by schools in adopting them.
Literature review
The term technology could mean different things to different individuals, depending on the place, organization or scenario. In this research, the definition encompasses computers, projectors, the internet, interactive boards, software, ICT gadgets and virtual learning (Hayes, 2007). The ration of the student to the computer has increased considerably over the years. In the 1980s, one computer was used approximately by 120 students. However, as early as 2002, one computer was shared by approximately 4 students. Today, there are no school that fail to have any form of technology resource (Inan et al, 2010; this is an indication that there is a general adoption of technology use in schools (Livingstone, 2012).
Challenges facing students outside the school life have increases over the year; industries now want highly qualified think-tanks that keep up with the growing trend of competing technological advancement in the labor market. Knowledge and skills of advanced technology have become a prerequisite to employment. This demand forces the students and schools to adopt technology in their activities. Students now use technology in almost every place; be it at school or at home (Chou et al, 2009).Reforms in the educational sector are being implemented all over the world. Most of these reforms involve ensuring that school adopt technology since it is viewed as a way of enhancing teaching (Livingstone, 2012). The focus of these reforms is having a generation of citizens that are better than the current generation in terms of researching and getting the necessary information.Learning is an active, rich, cooperative and authentic process which can be …
