The modern classroom
MANY international schools in Malaysia have a Bring Your Own Browser policy, which ensures that every student has his own electronic device in class to browse the Internet.
This is in addition to the technology built into a classroom’s four walls. Interactive whiteboards have replaced antiquated blackboards, and students can now learn from myriad applications such as Google Classroom and Kahoot!, which let students collaborate with teachers, fellow classmates and even people across the world.
Instead of making children stick to traditional books, integrating technology with learning processes means that children are taught skills relevant to the working world.
Giving students the opportunity to use such resources during classes permits them to choose and absorb a greater range of knowledge.
Having access to unlimited information sources means that students are taught to be selective and sceptical as well as exercise critical thinking when it comes to consuming and analysing information.
Teaching children to use and be comfortable with current technology also means that they learn the difference between using it in and out of the classroom.
At home, students may prefer to watch videos on YouTube or play games online, but they are taught to restrict themselves to educational sites and videos when at school.
In some ways, incorporating technology in the classroom can ease the learning experience, most notably in enhancing communication between teachers and students.
E-mails, collaboration applications, group chats and online test submissions are among the ways teachers can improve learning processes. When students are facing difficulty with assigned work, they can contact their teachers for advice and guidance, even when they are unable to attend school.
However, one question remains – are there drawbacks to using modern technology in the classroom?
As with any advancement, there are negative aspects to its implementation. When it comes to technological advances, critics are quick to suggest that use of technology takes away from the effectiveness of traditional learning.
No matter what kind of technology is being incorporated into classroom learning, there will be negative consequences when its function is abused or misused.
Thus, the answer is simple. It should be mandatory for teachers to provide adequate levels of guidance and supervision to ensure that students complete their assigned tasks.
Implementing technology within an educational environment not only reflects the working world but also serves to ensure the children entering schools today are fully fledged digital natives. – By Jessica Lazaro, student of Alice Smith School