How Has Technology Changed Education?

by Olvia F. Freelance writer

Education has seen a tremendous change over the past twenty-five years. The conventional model of learning was solely based on classroom attendance at a physical location and within a time-restricted curriculum. The school year was divided into terms or semesters.

Many factors played a role in determining admissions into a learning institution. They ranged from grades, references and recommendation, behavioral conduct, physical looks, religion and so on.

Many barriers have been lifted with the advent of technology. Technology has disrupted education and in a positive way. The bias that was there in the admission process previously has reduced. This has given people worldwide an opportunity to learn with and among the best, with no prejudices. People globally are able to join various online learning centers to pursue an education. Today, we are all global citizens because of this digital disruption. We can pursue an education from any institution that offers e learning as part of their curriculum methods.

Let us look at how technology has impacted education especially for those looking at a college education.

1. Accessibility to Education

The best thing technology has done for the pursuer of education is providing easy accessibility to institutions of learning. All one has to do is browse the internet looking for their requirements. These could be and but not limited to cost, courses offered, accreditation, admission requirements, institution scoring. One is spoilt for choice, as the options are many. You can now go online and access courses that you would probably not find in your geographical area. The sky is the limit. You can become a master of everything if you so wish. Distance learning is now a recognized way of education. You do not have to be in the traditional classroom set up for you to get an education. Moreover, online learning allows students to get to grips with services such as Pro-Papers, which offers all kinds of writing assignments to be done for you all over the globe.

2. Cost of Education

Many people all over the world are encumbered by student loans. The cost of education follows you to employment and sometimes even to retirement. Technology has saved many people financially. It has made education affordable. For example, many online education portals offer courses that range from free to sponsored. You can now seek admission from institutions that were otherwise financially inaccessible to many people. With these portals, the likes of Harvard, Yale and other Ivy League institutions worldwide are a click away. You can even enroll for some courses for free.

3. Teaching formats

The conventional teaching format was through a traditional classroom set up with a teacher/lecturer and textbooks. Today, with technology, one has the option of learning through e-modules, simulation tests, online collaborative learning and so on. You can self-learn or watch recorded lectures at your own time. Assignments are done and uploaded for scoring. Nowadays, all a student has to do to research a topic is google it, and all the information they need is at their fingertips. Research and data exploration through digital means has really influenced education today. With a smartphone, PC and internet, you can get any data you seek to assist you with your learning.

4. Flexibility and Variety

Online learning enables you to set your own deadlines according to your schedule. The flexibility of the programs allows you to change your schedule to suit your needs. It also allows you to choose the language you want the program conducted in. You are not bound to rigid rules that threaten you with suspension or expulsion. You are your own disciplinarian. You reap what you sow. Put in the hours and move forward, slacken and remain stagnant in the same place.

5. Results Oriented

Technology has allowed students to monitor their performance in real time. In the conventional pattern, students sat for tests and examinations that were physically marked by a lecturer and results given later. Today with e-modules, you answer questions and get your results immediately.

6. Information Sharing

With technology, information sharing has never been easier. You have eBooks, videos, audio lessons and other online material that you can share with a click. Traditionally, textbooks were very expensive depending on the course you were taking. Technology has disrupted the publishing world by ensuring digital copies are available and accessible. Students purchase and share the content online.

Technology has transformed education in many ways. We have access to quality material in different formats. These can be digitally saved and shared. We have a student body comprising people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Great teachers and lecturers are acknowledged and exposed to the learning community through their lectures and creative ways of teaching. Time zone differences mean nothing as you can schedule your modules to accommodate you. You have the power to reset your deadlines. Technology has become an enabler of interaction and for small groups of people to work together.

The world is now moving to machine learning and artificial intelligence. Education cannot remain where it was. Learning has to be progressive and go hand in hand with innovation. Institutions today have realized that technology plays an integral part of education and have adopted it in their instructional teaching. From brick and mortar classes to online classes. Technology has impacted and changed the way people learn today.