Technology in Education

Technology is giving devices a digital voice and they will be talking about us. By forgetting our concerns over the security of online transactions, or by revealing too much on Facebook or other social media platforms, the “system” already knows us, and we have become data.

Like it or not, we need to start learning to live alongside our new, smarter, digital friends: technology. Technological devices are now learning more of our most intimate details, instead of us learning theirs. They know what we eat, where we are and how fast our hearts beat. It has become a trend having technology at your fingertips and making constant use of it.

This technology, being one of the main tools for our education, has contributed a lot. People are getting to be great as a result of education from technology. Although it has some disadvantages, it makes many activities more efficient. Technology has made it easier to combine information on improving education, using different devices such as computers, mobile phones, cameras, and many other machines that help with research. Computer, one of the most accurate, gives results in split seconds.

The 2017 KCPE and KCSE exams were marked in a short time compared to other years here in Kenya, an improvement in education since it saved more time. This was through technology and was more advanced since it was more accurate, compared to human labour.

Technology has introduced different educational programmes that have attracted a lot of pupils and students who get engaged in non-traditional programmes. For example, on the television show Shupavu, they ask questions concerning different concepts, and the students answer them through SMS. This is increasing that individual’s accuracy since he/she is ensuring that the answer he/she gives out is correct. The programs offer prizes, such as phone credit and school visits, which attracts many students in these fun activities.

Nowadays, through technology, children are thriving and allocating themselves more time and having more opportunities to play and explore their natural abilities for self-education. Albert Einstein, who hated school, referred to his achievements in theoretical physics and mathematics as “combinatorial play.” Children play different games through these technological devices like computers and smartphones. People are most creative when infused by the spirit of play. This makes them to be more creative and sharp-minded.

As the days are moving, we are seeing the rise of the citizen coder. As more people recognize that app development is not just for professional programmers anymore, but also for students who are developing their careers earlier in their young age, these students end up gaining more skills before their university.

In years to come, I think technology will be a major requirement in schools. We, as the upcoming generation, realize that most ideas from the internet, even if they come from different sectors, can still be applied in education to solve some of the problem that we face. For example, we can use CCTV to collect data in different locations in schools where students are damaging the school property.

Many students fail because of negative attitudes towards the teachers, and not towards the subject. Many students are dropping out of school due to pregnancy and even though the community needs them, they are not useful people. In secondary schools, crimes are increasing where the teachers are attracted to the opposite sex, even to students. If the teacher were teaching indirectly, it could reduce such cases. It could work best with students not being taught by teachers face-to-face, but instead learning online in a room where each of the students has his/her own timetable. That would reduce distraction from other students and lessen conflicts causes by bad relationships with the teachers.

In conclusion, technology is surrounding us and giving us great ideas, so long as we get the opportunity to make use of it in a helpful manner. It is opening our minds and making us powerful beyond measure.