Innovations are commonplace in today’s world. It was less than 10 years ago that the then primarily computer manufacturer, Apple, introduced its first iPhone. Others followed quickly with Android-based cell phones. These “smartphones” were capable of not only making wireless phone calls, but also connecting us to the world via email and the Internet.
Today, smartphones are considered indispensable. They are as much a disruptive technology as their predecessors - the desktop computer. There's quite a bit of evidence that technology, when used in the right way, helps students learn. One study, for example, showed that a medical school class with iPads scored 23% higher on exams than classes without this device.
Technology, such as tablets, isn't only useful for absorbing knowledge; it helps with communication as well. Teachers and administrators use such devices to send materials and information to students and parents. Students hand in homework and term papers online and can access educational applications and programs to further assist with learning. Here are some of the clear benefits of using technology in the classroom:
-
It makes learning interesting and engaging, especially for younger generations raised on the latest technology. It allows for faster and more efficient delivery of lessons, both in the classroom and at home.
-
It reduces the need for textbooks and other printed material, lowering long-term costs incurred by schools and students.
-
It makes collaboration easier. Students, teachers, and parents can communicate and collaborate more effectively.
-
It helps to build technology-based skills, allowing students to learn, early on, to embrace and take advantage of the tools technology offers.
-
When we think of innovation nowadays, we usually think of technology. However, in a field such as education, it's just as important to focus on innovations in areas such as child psychology, learning theories, and teaching methods. This is particularly true at a time when many educators believe that the U.S. education system is failing. There are quite a few areas where innovations in education will help improve the system for everyone.
.jpg)
