RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

The ever-changing classroom thanks to technology

17th October 2017 Print

Technology has allowed teaching to become easier and the learning experience of students to be enhanced. This has been the case all the way from when the pen and paper was introduced, to when desktop computers started to appear in classrooms and now mobile tablets.

As this article showcases, technology is now an important element for how we learn new skills and subjects:

How technology developed in the 20th century

Students were given the opportunity to visualise education in a new way in the early part of 20th century when images were projected in a classroom with the assistance of projectors. First introduced in 1925, the Filmstrip Projector could be used depending on the subject being taught, helping students visualise the subject.

Learning in the classroom was transformed once again with the introduction of the radio and mimeograph. Introduced in 1940, the mimeograph allowed teachers to copy and distribute educational materials to students, while the radio could be used to transit lessons to other classrooms in other areas. Today, public address system installations have become more advanced, and GPS Installations are leading the way when it comes to systems that help to address the public. 

Another technological development of the classroom in the 20th century was the slide ruler — otherwise known as the old-fashioned ruler. Replacing the mimeograph as a more efficient alternative, the photocopier was also used to help speed up and quantify the distribution of educational materials.  

All of the following pieces of technology have had a lasting impression within educational establishments too: 

- 1960s. Although it did not become popular within classrooms for another ten years, the calculator was introduced in this decade. 

- 1970s. Used as a device to mark exam papers and other question papers, the Scantron machine has lasted to the present day as a way of speeding up the marking process. 

- 1980s. Personal computers were starting to be introduced and learners could use them to help improve their knowledge of a particular subject. 

- 1990s. While replacing traditional blackboards with interactive whiteboards, desktop computers were also becoming prevalent within most households, helping students to complete homework tasks on office-based packages. 

The digital classroom of today

It’s fair to say that children in the 21st century have seen the most dramatic of technological advances in the classroom, thanks to the growing popularity of gadgets like laptops, tablets, smartphones and the emergence of handy platforms such as YouTube. Considered as the digital revolution, integrating smart technologies into the classroom has changed the way educators teach and how students learn. 

One study, in which a classroom was split into groups A and B, showcases this point. Both groups were asked to research a topic and present their findings to the whole group, however, group A were not allowed mobile technologies whereas group B were. What was discovered is that group B divided into sub-groups, whereas group A stayed together. What this suggests is that technology can help aid integrated organisational structures within learning groups, which leads to more specific and concentrated learning, in comparison to the generalised learning and collaboration witnessed in group A. 

Further research also claims that technology in the classroom has been met positively by many teachers. In the US, for example, 86% claimed that technology was an essential part of a student’s education. Furthermore, 92% felt that they could have more technology within their classroom to help the quality of their educational delivery improve. 

It should also be pointed out that students can save money on buying textbooks and yet improve the quality of a lesson when technology is implemented effectively into a classroom. This is because electronic copies of eBooks and other digital-based learning materials are 33 – 35% cheaper than their physical alternatives. Increasing their chances of passing an exam, tablets and other interactive digital devices have improved literacy and numeracy skills. 

There are some sceptics when it comes to using technology as a means of learning in the classroom though. In a study conducted by A Common Sense Media, for instance, it was reported that 71% of teaching staff felt that a student’s attention span had been compromised by smart devices such as mobiles and tablets. What this suggests is that as digital technologies have been adopted into our classrooms, we still haven’t found the correct balance between utilising digital technologies as a source for quality education, and making sure that they aren’t being used to the extent where they become a distraction.

Due to this, it’s vital to bear in mind that any change to how classrooms are set out is done so with the intent to improve the learning of every pupil present. This is why the digital revolution has benefited the classroom – even though its impact has been received both positively and negatively. If education institutions can get the balance right between interaction and distraction, there is no reason why digital technologies can’t transform the learning capabilities of young people.