Modern technology is impacting education and elementary schools in many ways. It has improved access to learning materials while eliminating the need for traveling since students can now learn from their convenient places. Technology has made it possible for students to read books in the school database and other online sources while still at home. In the medieval era, students had to travel to the learning centers. However, massive information including videos, audio, magazines, articles, and images is now available at the click of a computer button. The scope for the access of learning materials is unprecedented and students can learn from their convenient places (Fauzi and Sastra 60).
Although modern technology has made a positive impact on education, it has negatively affected students in many ways. It has eliminated face-to-face interaction between teachers and students, which is necessary for enhancing socialization, interaction, and improved students’ attention and focus. The closure of schools in an attempt to hinder the spread of the coronavirus has influenced elementary schools to rely on online learning. It has created stress among students and increased cases of many psychological problems (Ball et al. 70). This paper examines the impact of modern technology in elementary schools and predicts future outcomes.
Improved Collaboration and Communication
Technology has expanded opportunities for collaboration and communication and enhanced the quality of education. Since classrooms were isolated in the past, it was not possible to promote collaboration. However, information can be shared widely and diverse teaching methods used to ensure that every student is educated in the best way possible. Students can learn about anything they want, interact with experts and participate in researchers. They can acquire knowledge by reading scientists’ blog posting, send questions to educators, as well as have a discussion with knowledgeable individuals through videoconferencing (Nurdyansyah, Pandi, and Qorirotul 41).
Technology advancement has provided means of enhancing interactions and communication among students in teams. Students can now learn what others are doing and identify areas requiring more improvement in a better way. Moreover, it has enabled educators to monitor the progress of students and assist them address issues affecting them. For instance, students can submit their completed assignments to their teachers online and conveniently receive feedback. This implies that technology has eliminated the existing geographical differences between teachers and students by making learning possible outside classes.
Changing Roles of Learners and Teachers
The role of learners and teachers has significantly changed following technological advancement. In traditional elementary classrooms had teachers as the source of information and students as the passive receivers. Technology has enabled students to access information from other sources and benefit from diverse educational opportunities. This has altered the role of teachers as students take higher responsibility for their education and learning process. Apart from the previous role of providing information, teachers are now more involved in the provision of guidance to students (Fauzi and Sastra 65). Many learning institutions have redesigned their learning program and spaces to enhance interactions and facilitate the development of an improved education model.
Elementary schools have benefited from modern technology and it has become a powerful tool for transforming and supporting education. It has made it possible and easier for teachers to develop educational and instructional materials to facilitate learning. The ubiquity of smart devices and improved internet access around the globe has enabled learning institutions to meet diverse students’ expectations. Schools are making every effort to benefit from educational technologies and instructional designers ensuring that every learning opportunity is utilized appropriately (Ball et al. 70). Elementary schools are leveraging technology to improve education ensuring that efficient and effective learning is attained.
Improved Flexibility
Modern technology enhances flexibility by enabling elementary students to solve problems. Parents and teachers can use technology to monitor their children and understand issues affecting them. This can help explain the root causes of undesirable behaviors and assist stuck children in overcoming difficulties. Technology has transformed learning in elementary school, particularly by enhancing the ability of students to access materials, resources, and content, and promotes student’s experience. It facilitates the incorporation of varying learning styles, develops a more engaging environment, prepares students for the future, and improves collaboration. Moreover, technology promotes flexibility by enhancing interactions and connections among students. It also makes it possible to develop a strong relationship between teachers and students to ensure that the classroom styles support advancement.
Technology also improves the ability of students to prepare for the digital future and make the necessary adjustment to achieve the set objectives (Teräs et al. 869). Modern technology has enabled elementary students to learn from their preferred places. Students have the freedom to complete their class assignments and work without meeting their teachers face to face. They have an improved opportunity to plan their time and complete their assignments before the deadline. Moreover, young students can learn from home and eliminate the need for parents to take them to and from school every day.
Opinion and Evaluation Result
I believe that modern technology will increase inequality in elementary schools by affecting some students while giving an advantage to others. Many Americans lack access to high-speed internet in their homes, making it difficult to learn online. Low-income and minority students, particularly those in rural areas, are more likely to face poor connections. Online learning hinders children from interacting and play in school, which is important for their development. This is likely to come with increased stress, boredom, and poor psychological and cognitive development. Learning from home would hinder the beneficial face-to-face interactions with teachers (Harwin). Monitoring the attention and motivation of students would become difficult due to the geographical variations.
Worsening Students’ Ability to Pay Attention
Modern technology has brought many benefits but it is also marked with various shortcomings that are likely to affect students in the future. Distance learning has made it impossible for students to interact and play together as part of their development. This is also likely to influence boredom and limited socialization, which would affect children’s development. Learning from home can affect the ability of students to pay attention to details particularly those who are struggling with mental flexibility, focus, or self-control. It is difficult for teachers to evaluate the concentration of students outside the traditional classes.
Evaluating students who are not working hard or following details has proven difficult in this period of the pandemic. Many concentrating problems have emerged during the period due to negative factors such as extended hours of playing video games and stress arising from health problems. There has been increased anxiety, trauma, and other psychological problems related to staying in confined environments. Modern technology in distance learning is likely to cause increased cases of mental illness and affect many children in the future. Students are more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with distance learning due to poor interactions.
Remote learning has hindered children from playing and participating in extra-curriculum activities, which are necessary for their development (Farmer). Pre-school children usually learn through playing which has become impossible in distance learning. This implies that prolonged lockdown can have a devastating impact on children due to increased human-machine interactions. Modern technology is a serious issue likely to affect the wellbeing of many children around the globe if sufficient corrective measures are not taken.
Conclusion
In conclusion, modern technology has created positive and negative impacts on students and teachers in elementary schools. It has improved communication, flexibility, collaboration, enhanced the role of teachers, and facilitated the achievement of special needs. Online learning has enabled students to access educational materials from their convenient places saving on both time and travel costs. The role of teachers has changed from offering direct information to providing learning guidance to students. This has made it possible for education to continue as measures taken to curb the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies. Teachers can communicate with students remotely, and offer the necessary knowledge without meeting in a classroom.
However, technology has brought a devastating impact due to the elimination of face-to-face interactions. It is no longer possible for students to play together and interact, which is an important part of their development. This has increased stress and boredom among students increasing chances of developing psychological conditions such as ADHD. Studying from home is likely to negatively impact the social development of students due to prolonged confinement.
Works Cited
Ball et al. “School’s Out.” TIME Magazine, vol. 196, no. 5/6. 2020, pp. 68–75. EBSCOhost. Web.
Farmer, Liz. “Will The Gap Grow Wider Magazine.” Life in America. 2020. Web.
Fauzi, Irfan, and Iman Hermawan Sastra Khusuma. “Teachers’ elementary school in online learning of COVID-19 pandemic conditions.” Jurnal Iqra’: Kajian Ilmu Pendidikan vol 5. no. 1, 2020, pp. 58-70.
Harwin, Alex. Will Months of Remote Learning Worsen Students’ Attention Problems? Education Week. 2020. Web.
Nurdyansyah, Nurdyansyah, Pandi Rais, and Qorirotul Aini. “The Role of Education Technology in Mathematic of Third Grade Students in MI Ma’arif Pademonegoro Sukodono.” Madrosatuna: Journal of Islamic Elementary School vol 1.no.1, 2017, pp. 37-46.
Teräs, Marko, et al. “Post-Covid-19 education and education technology ‘solutionism’: A seller’s market.” Postdigital Science and Education vol 2. no.3, 2020, pp. 863-878.