10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Education

Technology is one of the most valuable tools that we have available at our finger tips every day. You can do virtually anything with your smart phone, tablet, or computer. From seeing what time a movie starts, ordering a pizza, and paying your bills the possibilities for technology are endless. And not only are they endless, they are constantly improving to make the things we have to do everyday easier. It sounds pretty awesome right? That thought might change when you put our youth and their education into the mix. Many people believe that the abundance of technology in our schools is hindering students ability to think for themselves and learn old style methods of research. People who support the use of technology in the class room argue that they no longer have to. It’s a touchy subject, that cannot be solved just by an analysis, but learning all of the advantages and disadvantages of having technology in the classroom can certainly give you a well rounded and informed opinion.

Advantages of Technology In Education

1. Parent’s Peace of Mind
Cell phones now allow us to stay in contact with our friends and family anywhere that we are. It is how students communicate problems and emergencies with their parents when they are at school as well.
2. The Information Highway
Any answer to any question can be found with a few clicks of the keys on the computer or smart phone. Powerful search engines allow an organized and simply way to find the answers that students may need for assignments or projects.
3. Broaden The Mind
Before the internet, children knew what their family taught them. This caused their political and religious views to be the only ones that the children knew. Having access to the technology will expose them to things outside of their parents interests and help them to form their own opinions.
4. Brings Some Fun Into The Classroom
Learning the same exact way from the same person every day can really get…boring. This boredom turns into a lack of motivation in the students. When they are able to integrate computer learning into their normal schedule, they become much more excited to learn.
5. Applicable Education
In the working world, in nearly every job you may take, you have to know how to operate a computer. Teaching this skill in children early will give them an advantages and a learning curve for when they are adults.

Disadvantages of Technology In Education

1. Access To Inappropriate Content
The biggest concern when it comes to the use of technology in schools is how easy pornographic, violent, and other inappropriate materials can be accessed and viewed. This could cause big problems if the material is shared with other students while in the classroom.
2. A Disconnected Youth
This harmful effect of technology has already come to light in today’s world. People are attached to their screens almost 24/7, which is causing an entirely new set of social issues to pop up. This translates into the school system in a bit of a different way, however. More and more students are experiencing social anxieties when it comes to face to face interactions, but are perfectly fine socializing online.
4. Inevitable Cheating
While have an easy access to information may seem like a great thing, it can become a real problem in a test taking environment. Cell phones have made cheating easier than ever. You no longer have to figure out how to write all of the answers down, you can just look them up!
5. A Major Distraction
Attentiveness drops drastically in the classroom when students have their cell phones or other technologies out. The focus shifts from their teacher and education, to whatever they are looking at, playing, or doing on their phones.

Important Facts About Technology In Education

As much as 60 percent of schools in America, issue laptops or tablets to their students.

41% of students are in favor of taking virtual classes.

50% of students in middle and high school use the internet to complete work 3 times a week.

The students that study on computers, phones, or tablets, study for an average of 40 minutes more per week than those who do not.