Thinking Activity: Education and Technology

The 21st century has witnessed (and is still going to) the integration of technology with almost all the aspects of human life. From our work environments to our social circles, technology has become an indispensable part of our lives. May be this is why, whether it has eased our efforts or has/had a deteriorating effect on our lives, is a fresh topic for debate these days. Let's take education for example; among the many voices that echo the opinion that technology for education is just a waste of time, there are expert opinions arguing strongly that, it is a helping hand for teachers as well as students. Well we can say that one of the many aims of education is to keep learners updated about the changing times and keep them ready for innovation; which technology can provide time and again, and therefore it becomes necessary to integrate technology with our education systems. Some of the major arguments in favour of this opinion have been presented by the following experts and scholars:


1) Sugato Mitra:

In his TED talk, Sugato Mitra explains how his project of Hole in the Wall lead him to think about the future of learning and education. He argues how the traditional education system was designed years ago to fulfill a different purpose than today. The 21st century demands the development of a different set of skills; skills like multitasking which, the traditional education system, isn't much helpful in achieving. His Hole In The Wall project and its results hint at the idea that often curiosity is enough to learn and acquire new knowledge; and that the new generation is ready to integrate technological advances and innovations in their lives and particularly education. He also argues how by integrating technology in the teaching-learning process could help reduce the mental pressure created by the examinations and other evaluation methods of the traditional system; by its self paced learning as well as what Mitra calls "Self Organized Learning Environment" (SOLE).

2) Ken Robinson:

In his video on the changing paradigm of education, Ken Robinson argues how the old Victorian style of teaching which resembled the functioning of a factory model has changed into one resembling a business model. It can be argued that both these systems are equally restrictive and to an extent rigid; not allowing much space for innovation and creativity. This idea of the changing paradigm therefore, indicates the need to rethink our existing techniques of teaching and learning. And technology can be a tool to drive this change.

3) Salman Khan:

Founder of Khan Academy, Salman Khan is a major figure when it comes to integrating technology in the academic field. In his TED talk he explains how the idea of Khan Academy developed. He also argues how the flipped classroom helps to break the barriers posed by the traditional education system; like mode of teaching becomes interactive and creative with the help of graphic as well as video resources instead of the traditional mode where only the teacher speaks and the students listen.

4) Marc Prensky:

Marc Prensky notes how the usage of technological tools can hint at the outlook of the people towards the changing times. He presents the idea of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. He begins with the fundamental argument that there has occurred a wide distinction between the students of the 21st century and those of the previous generation. Now, this distinction isn't like the usual generation gap that happens with the changing times. Prensky argues that "a major discontinuity has taken place". This discontinuity is what Prensky calls "singularity"; "an event that changes things so fundamentally that there is absolutely no going back". This singularity is none other than emergence of a wide range technological devices catering to the various spheres of our daily lives. Those who are able to cope up with these innovations and are able to live with them, are what Prensky calls Digital Natives. On the other hand, those who haven't been able to adapt to the phenomenon of digital lifestyle, or more specifically who have been introduced to it in the later stages of their lives, are given the name of Digital Immigrants. Prensky points out how this distinction between digital natives and immigrants creates a problem for the education system. He points out how the instructors in our schools and colleges are digital immigrants and therefore speak a different language before our students- digital natives.

5) David Crystal:

At a time when the 'digital immigrants' argue that the emergence of technological advances, especially social media platforms, has/had a deteriorating effect on the English language, David Crystal's arguments might function as defence for the 'digital natives'. Crystal argues that the arrival of these social media platforms and technological innovations have actually helped the language to grow instead of ruining it. It has made it easier for learners to learn not just the English language but any language in general. It has helped in bringing new varieties and styles of not just English but all languages. In Crystal's opinion, technology and internet domains have surely influenced the English language, they have to, they always do, but they haven't altered the standard structure of the language. And therefore,the biggest challenge for teachers today, according to Crystal, is to "keep pace with language change." Crystal suggests that in order to do this, teachers need to teach their students get accustomed to listening new varieties and accents of English existing in the world.


Summing up, it can be said that technological advances are here to help and ease our academic difficulties, if we use them wisely. The traditional education system was invented to cater to a specific kind of learners belonging to a specific time. And therefore, now that the time has changed and that the discontinuity has already taken place, digital immigrants need to keep pace with the changing times. It can also be argued that in order to devise a new educational system, suitable to our time, digital natives and digital immigrants need to work together.