Get With The Times, Ya Jag

As we move forward in time, development is imminent. Cars going faster, phones getting more compact, planets being explored, but within the classroom, everything remains the same – pen and paper; chalk and a board. Even though the pandemic has pushed us into an online environment and forced us to use the several tools technology provides us with to teach millions of kids, we only use these tools to replace the tools we already had. A chalkboard replaced with a digital chalkboard, and our notebooks replaced by Word and Notepad. What can be achieved with the right use of resources, is well beyond where we currently are. The proper integration of technology and standard teaching methods can help students learn better and more by incorporating the best of both worlds.

If schools do not have a clear plan for how and why they want to use technology, they risk wasting money. Nearly every classroom in today's schools has access to a computer. Many schools, however, misunderstand this to mean that information technology is being integrated into the curriculum. Instead of simply purchasing the latest equipment, school staff should examine what is available and what would best serve the school's purpose. There should be a policy outlining how technology will aid students' growth and what teachers want students to accomplish. Before they can start implementing it into their teaching, staff members must be clear about what they want it to do for them.

Only if all staff members are well-informed and thoroughly supported, will information technology be valuable to schools. It is the responsibility of the administration, and it should be part of the school's plan, to guarantee that all employees are consulted about the changes and that the transition is well-planned. Some instructors may be hesitant, especially if they have little computer knowledge, therefore, training teachers is critical when incorporating technology into the school curriculum. To boost their confidence in using technology as a curriculum tool, staff members must feel included in the process of learning how to utilise it. Teaches should be extremely comfortable with the use of technology, it shouldn’t be a burden to them, instead it should be a helping hand.

Pupils must be taught how to use technology effectively. Before being asked to use it, children must be adequately informed about its capabilities. Pupils should be aware that the situations in which they use it will change over time, and they should be aware of how to use it properly. While it is critical for children to understand how to utilise technology effectively, teachers must stress that it is not the primary part of education.

Northrop Frye, A literary critic, says, “The most technologically efficient machine a man has ever invented is the book”. We need to find the right blend between both worlds to enhance the quality of teaching. Teachers must ensure that they incorporate variety into their lessons. Excessive use of technology in schools may be as harmful to a child as its insufficient use. Its usefulness in the classroom, like that of any other learning tool, is dependent on the teacher's creativity and imagination. However, it is critical that the integration of technology into a school be carefully planned. Because of the current information explosion, it is imperative that IT be used extensively in the classroom so that children understand how to use IT appropriately and effectively.

Because of this, school boards and instructors must work to develop clear goals for their students' use of technology. Students' brains and talents will be broadened as a result of its inclusion in the classroom, allowing them to be more prepared for future technology breakthroughs.