With technology becoming such an integral part of our lives, it is impractical to teach students without it. The major problem with using technology for learning is that it can be a distraction to most students both in and out of the classroom when it’s not properly monitored.

However, when used correctly, technology can be a game changer in making classrooms more engaging and dynamic. It also teaches students how to navigate the tools they will need in the future from an early age.

What Is Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)?

Technology-enhanced learning entails incorporating technology into people’s learning experiences. It is the use of technology in education to make it more efficient for both students and teachers.

The education sector is rapidly accepting technology by making education more accessible and flexible for everyone through Edtech such as educational apps, digital certifications, and more.

E-learning is becoming a widely used practice among educators, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic, when many schools were forced to rely on technology to educate students. Since then, there has been widespread use of TEL to make education more interactive and free of physical barriers. 

In this article, we’ll discuss why more educational institutions should use TEL, as well as its benefits and drawbacks.

 

Why Is Technology Enhanced Learning Important?

One of the best aspects of incorporating technology into learning, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, is that it makes learning easier for both students and educators. Here are some reasons why technology-enhanced learning is important:

Remote and Hybrid Learning

There have been online classes and degrees for some time, but in recent years, people have become far more open to remote and hybrid learning than they were previously. Previously, online classes were not as engaging as in-person learning, but remote learning has greatly improved.

Remote and hybrid learning are now more effective and engaging for students in online classrooms. Students do not need to endure a stressful commute or relocate to attend class; instead, they can simply connect to their classes online.

There are more platforms to help students in learning effectively in remote and hybrid settings. Whether the educator is teaching a hybrid or entirely remote class, remote learning tools help make the class more engaging, conduct assessments, and grade students seamlessly.

Students Can Learn at their Pace

One significant benefit of technology-enhanced learning over traditional classrooms is that students can learn at their own pace. Unlike traditional learning, which requires students to learn at the same rate regardless of whether some students can keep up.

For example, they can watch class recordings if they need to review material from the class or if they missed it. They can also take pop quizzes privately, work on group projects, and effectively collaborate with their peers through group chats, task assignments, etc.

Read: Types of Student’s Intelligence Every Teacher Should Know

More Learning Resources

Another advantage of using TEL is that students have access to far more learning resources than they would otherwise have, such as ebooks, video tutorials, and other interactive learning resources.

TEL also makes it easier for teachers to find resources for their classes. Numerous educator groups provide resources to help teachers tackle difficult topics or ways to effectively teach difficult topics to students.

Better Engagement

Students find it difficult to concentrate in a class where the class isn’t interactive. Using TEL allows teachers to develop interactive teaching methods and illustrations that capture students’ attention and keep them engaged in the class.

Most children and young adults are very tech-savvy, so using TEL brings the learning process to their comfort zone. They can use an e-learning platform intuitively, participate in classes, and effectively communicate their frustrations to their educators.

 Real-Life Application

Technology is an important part of our lives, and excluding it from the learning environment is not a practical solution. As a result, incorporating technology into the classroom allows students and teachers to focus on how to apply the knowledge and skills gained to solve real-world problems.

Also, students must learn basic tech skills to become industry leaders and professionals, so the earlier they learn how to use tools and platforms relevant to their career path, the better.

Most artists now use digital sketchpads, engineers use 3D simulations, and most teams use online collaboration tools, etc. So teaching students how to use these tools related to their profession makes their transition into professional smoother.

Technology-Enhanced Learning Examples

Here are the most common examples of TEL-

• E-books

Instead of carrying heavy textbooks, students can use e-books and access them via laptops, tablets, or mobile devices. Also, e-books are updated much more frequently than textbooks; when textbooks are updated, you have to pay for the new edition; with ebooks, all you need to do is download the update.

E-books are also easier and faster to read and take notes on the go than paper books.

• Digital Certifications and Courses

With digital classrooms and online courses, it is much easier to obtain certification in various fields. People can easily take courses, complete assignments, and complete projects regardless of where they are as long as they have an internet connection.

People can earn diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, professional designations, and even MBAs online if they meet the certification requirements.

• Smartphones, Computers, and Tablets

Tablets and computers are generally permitted in the classroom; students use them for digital notes, illustrations, quizzes, and other purposes. However, smartphones are generally not permitted in classrooms because they can disrupt students.

That is not to say that mobile phones should be avoided entirely; when used correctly, they perform nearly all of the same functions as laptops and tablets and are easier for students to carry around.

• Online Group Study

Unlike traditional group study, where students must meet at a specific location, online supervised group study allows them to work together to complete group projects, assignments, and more. 

In most cases, there is a set time for group study, the student logs in for the session, shares ideas under the supervision of a parent or educator, and exits the group when the study session finishes.

This is efficient because it saves students’ commute time and resources such as transportation to the location where they would have the physical group study.

Pros & Cons of Technology Enhanced Learning

Incorporating technology into student learning has both pros and cons. Let’s take a look at some of them-

Advantages of TEL

• Interactive Learning Experience

Technology allows children to access their classes easily and interact freely in online classrooms. Having video tutorials and interesting illustrations also helps students understand topics and their real-life applications.

Students can also access resources whenever they need them by using digital resources such as recorded classes, tutorials, e-books, study apps, and more. For example, educators can use animated illustrations to explain abstract concepts such as volcano activation and crude oil exploration to students.

• Technology Is Exciting to Young Students

Most children are accustomed to having technology from a young age, making technology-based learning far more appealing to them. TEL is a great way to capitalize on their interest and teach them in an environment that they are familiar with.

For example, most students are ecstatic when they see devices like tablets, laptops, and smartphones, so they are more likely to be engaged in classes.

• Access to Current Information From Multiple Sources

Aside from learning in ways that are interesting to them, students can also access current information and a large database for research. Rather than visiting traditional libraries to look up topics and authors, students can simply search for specific information and get immediate results.

For example, students can use Google scholar or Research Gate to access multiple journals and publications related to their research with a simple Google search, which is more effective than searching through multiple textbooks and scientific journals.

• Less Expensive Than Traditional Learning

One major advantage of TEL is that it makes resources more accessible, such as books, so students don’t have to buy expensive paper textbooks and can instead pay for a cheaper e-book version. Students can simply sign up for research platforms to gain access to free publications.

• Easier Performance Metrics Review

With traditional learning, educators spend a lot of time setting up assessments, grading results, and letting students know where they need to improve.

For example, using forms for tests and exams allows students to see what the correct answer is at the end of the assessment. This allows them to remember and apply the corrections in the future.

Form analytics informs teachers about the overall performance of the class. For example, seeing the majority of students select an incorrect answer indicates to the teacher that there must be a factor influencing students to select that particular answer, which the teacher can address in class.

Using platforms such as Formplus, allows educators to create assessments such as quizzes and exams. Teachers can even make the assessments interactive by including illustrations such as images and videos.

Explore: 9 Types of Educational Assessments – Formplus

• Flexible Learning Experience

Teachers can easily share information using TEL, and students can learn at their own pace. For example, most digital certification programs allow students to choose when they attend classes and take exams.

Even if a student misses a scheduled class, they can listen to recordings and still participate in class assessments as if they were present.

What are the Disadvantages of Technology Enhanced learning?

• It Can Be Distracting

While technology can make learning more interesting for students, it can also be very distracting. Children need to be supervised when given access to devices so that they do not access inappropriate content or spend excessive amounts of time digesting social media content and playing games rather than learning.

• Devices are Expensive

Good tech gadgets, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, sketchpads, and others, are quite expensive. Subscribing to most e-learning platforms is also not free.

Platforms with excellent learning experiences and great tutors are typically expensive, with some costing nearly as much as traditional school tuition.

• Isolation

While learning alone is flexible and allows students to learn actively, it does not provide many opportunities to socialize with other students outside of class, which can be lonely.

 Most educators address this by holding online discussion groups, assigning homework groups, live classes where students can ask questions, and sending emails to check in on students’ learning progress.

Reduces Students’ Problem-Solving Skills

A significant disadvantage of using TEL is that students already have the majority of the answers and do not need to put in much effort to solve problems creatively. Children, for example, may never learn to spell certain words because their devices have an autocorrect software.

Students may miss out on learning fundamental skills such as spelling, grammar, and math because of software that simplifies the problem.

While this may appear to be a simpler way to do things, it does not help children’s cognitive development. They may even struggle to perform basic life tasks such as addition and subtraction without technology.

Conclusion

Depending on how it is used, technology can make students’ learning experiences easier or more difficult. Technology has the potential to make learning more engaging and enjoyable for students if used effectively by both students and teachers.

The most efficient way to implement TEL is to create guidelines that allow you to create an interactive classroom while keeping distractions at bay.