Technology is one of the most discussed subjects today. Be it in medicine, military, education, economics politics, or even religion, new innovations are making remarkable strides. In the field of medicine, applications of advanced technologies have made remarkable improvements, and advanced military technologies have led to manufacturing drones that are replacing combat forces on the ground. This has given the military a whole new range of powers. Similarly, technology has made learning process easy, less time-consuming, and effective.
Smartphones, Facebook, Twitter and the latest hot selling tablets have become tools for education. From a very young age, students are required to keep abreast of new technologies. Along with many virtues, these gadgets have vices as well—virtues if used to benefit learning, and vices if used for wrong ends.
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Teaching with the use of technological means has become quite important today. The ability to use different software like Windows, Mac OS, and Linux has become a minimum requirement for teachers even at school level. It would be advisable to offer such courses to the students in school itself, so that they can later cope with the requirements of the job market. The use of technology should be a compulsory course, and should be promoted in school.
The use of multimedia such as pictures, videos, graphs and other applications will make teaching effective in core subjects like economics, science, music and arts at the college level. For example, the use of projection screens will make lessons more interesting and easier to understand. With visual teaching methods, students would be able to draw pictures in their memory, which they will be able to retrieve more easily than information from traditional teaching methods. The traditional methods of writing on boards and handing out notes are not sufficient for modern day teaching.
I urge school teachers to update themselves with, at least, simple computing skills such as typing and operating office suites, and preparing spreadsheets to keep a database of students. In this age of technology, teachers’ roles should not be limited to reading a book in the classroom and giving notes. Students can read books themselves and learn more effectively through audio-visual means than by listening to their teachers in the classroom. Instead, teachers should play the role of facilitators to locate relevant resources from traditional sources like books and magazines in libraries as well as online, and help students understand the resources and apply them. Essentially, teachers should look beyond just course books.
Because of the technological revolution, the use of paper is slowly becoming obsolete. Until recently, students had to carry a big load of books to school, but now they can carry all their books, notes and homework in a laptop, netbook, tablet, or e-book. This makes students’ lives easier and learning more fun. Many American and European Universities are already imparting online education to a vast numbers of students throughout the world. Such practices are being introduced at schools as well.
The use of technology in teaching and learning becomes even more important and desirable in Nepal, where in many places students have to walk for hours to reach the nearest school, or where teachers are not available. Teachers can teach online, as well as assign homework and projects and grade them, all online. Students can watch lessons online and submit their projects via email or file transfer software like drop-box. This will enable children to learn even when they have no access to school. The only concern here would be the availability and speed of the internet. This is something the government and the internet service providers need to work on big time.
Studies have shown that children familiar with such technologies excel in writing, reading and math skills. There is also a school of thought which believes children get spoiled if we allow them to use these technologies in their childhood. It is true to some extent: Technology can be misused. However, this should not prevent us from tapping the vast teaching-learning benefits it offers. Besides, now there are electronic locking systems available to prevent children from having access to objectionable materials.
In this age of technology, teachers’ roles should not be limited to reading a book in the classroom and giving notes.
In Western countries, learning is defined cognitively. Students go to educational institutions with a level of innate intelligence and curiosity, and teachers try to further stimulate their curiosity in specific subjects based on students’ inclinations. They also emphasize active learning such as going to field trips, building things and doing something creative. There is also a great emphasis on questioning authority, critical inquiry, and sharing ideas in classroom discussions. Western countries impart education to help students understand and master the external world.
In our part of the world, we define learning morally. There is lesser emphasis on innate curiosity. We tend to see learning as an arduous process which one undertakes in order to cultivate virtues inside the self. We stress unimaginatively memorizing facts in order to score in tests.
We should not imitate the West blindly, but we should not hesitate to learn from their education system. Our education should be a blend of East and West. We should place emphasis on sincerity, diligence, perseverance, concentration and respect for our elders and teachers, as well as on Western cognitive approaches. Our students should feel proud of their achievements, while still retaining a humility that enables self-examination. New technologies should be a tool for better learning, both morally and intellectually.
The author holds a post-graduate degree in Business Administration from Delaware University, USA
contactbibhav@gmail.com
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