There has been a lot of discussions about whether children should use technology in the classroom. Some people believe it leads to better performance at school and are accessible to disabled people. Others think, on the contrary, that it’s widening inequality and causes distractions and loss of focus. Although technologies have its own benefits, i think equality in the education is significantly more important.
Critics argue that using technologies are bringing a lot of advantages, such as active engagement. This is because interactive tools, educational apps, and multimedia make lessons dynamic and help turn passive listeners into active problem-solvers. For example, instead of just writing down notes, there could be interactive elements in educational apps that would keep pupils engaged and interested in topic. This may lead to better absorption of information. Another point they usually mention is accessibility. In other words, digital tools could suggest alternative ways of educations for people with physical disabilities, making their learning convenient and less stressful. This happens by removing physical and learning berries, allowing them to access the same curriculum as their peers. A good example of this is performing tasks on their own: submitting the homework online or communicating through digital devices. This can improve these children’s self-esteem and lower anxiety.
However, i believe that the use of technologies could lead only to more distractions. In other words, tablets, laptops and other digital devices tend to pull children attention towards games and social media. For example, pupils, instead of doing teachers task may spent the whole lesson gaming or chatting in the social media without strict supervision. Therefore, that may end with the gap in knowledge and falling behind in the school curriculum. Another point I adhere to is inequality. This means that everyone has different ability to use online resources, access to the Internet itself and some families may not have a suitable device for learning. This may lead to even bigger gaps in the process rather than closing them.
In conclusion, although using technologies in the classroom can make it more accessible, i believe it’s important that education stays equal.