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Pros and Cons of Using Educational Technology in Schools

Pros
Wakil, K., Qaisar, N., & Mohammed, C. (2017). Enriching classrooms with technology in the
basic schools. European Journal of Open Education and E-learning Studies.
The authors explore the role of technology in enhancing the learning experience in the classroom
set-up. They outline the following advantages of integrating technology in the classroom:
 Use of technology by teachers in class allows students to develop technology skills and
hence become productive members in a society whose operations take place in an overly
competitive global economy.
 Technology empowers the education system of a country, thus giving the students a
competitive advantage in the global sphere.
 Integration of technology in class makes lessons enjoyable for both the teacher and the
students.
Cons
Montrieux, H., Vanderlinde, R., Schellens, T., & De Marez, L. (2015). Teaching and learning
with mobile technology: A qualitative explorative study about the introduction of tablet
devices in secondary education. PloS one, 10(12), e0144008.
The authors examine the use of technology by both teachers and students in the classroom. They
outline both the advantages and disadvantages. Some of the cons explained in the article include;
 Technology blurs the boundary between recreation and school

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 Distraction- technology is a major source of distraction, especially for students. The use
of tablets tends to make students have divided attention during lessons.
 Having less understanding of the curriculum material- The use of technology does not
enhance understanding of the course content.
Reflection questions
Several factors contribute to the successful use of technology by teachers to complement
their instructional methods. First, the ability to use technology innovatively to enhance the
learning experience. This implies being able to strike a balance between the use of technology
and the use of other instructional methods that engage the learner’s mind. If technology is
integrated n a meaningful manner, then students can achieve deep learning. Teachers, on the
other hand, are able to adopt innovative roles and facilitate the learning process.
Some technologies should not be used in schools because they cause distractions. For
instance, Facebook and iMessage are widely used by students, and most are in favor of these
platforms because they allow them to form social networks online and discuss classwork
spontaneously. While that is true, these online platforms have a lot of distractive content and
rarely will students use them to discuss content learned in school. Besides, when students
transfer social contact to such platforms or to the digital world, then their communication skills
are significantly affected.
Overall, we should continue to integrate technology in the classroom set-up to enhance
learning. In spite of the fact that there are cons associated with the using technology to enrich the
students’ learning experience, the advantages are many, and they cannot be overlooked. The use
of technology in class ensures full participation. The teacher gets an opportunity to engage all the

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students through online polling as well as using other digital tools. Systems that facilitate online
engagement enables the teacher to check in with students on a regular basis and provide
feedback and assistance on assignments where necessary. Besides, technology presents learners
and teachers with countless ways and resources to enhance the learning experience, make it fun,
and ensure that the acquisition of education is effective. Technology should be integrated into
schools because it allows for automation of various tasks, and this ensures that time-consuming
and tedious tasks are completed in good time. Also, it is easy to track students’ performance and
school attendance.

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References

Montrieux, H., Vanderlinde, R., Schellens, T., & De Marez, L. (2015). Teaching and learning
with mobile technology: A qualitative explorative study about the introduction of tablet
devices in secondary education. PloS one, 10(12), e0144008.
Wakil, K., Qaisar, N., & Mohammed, C. (2017). Enriching classrooms with technology in the
basic schools. European Journal of Open Education and E-learning Studies.