Advantages of technology usage in the classroom
The use of technology in the classroom has increased in recent years, as it is a tool that has helped to improve the teaching-learning process. Technology has some advantages for both teachers and students. According to Dror (2008) "Technology should not be used just because it is available, but rather, because it will enable teachers and students to reach learning goals that were not obtainable or as easily obtainable without the technology". In education, technology can be used in many different ways such as online assignments, apps, or online courses. Furthermore, technology has had a significant impact on education. Technology usage in the classroom provide some advantages for the teaching-learning process such as helping to develop students' critical and creative thinking skills, helping to develop students’ new ICTs literacies, and helping to transform the conventional teaching practices.
The technology usage in the classroom helps to improve students’ critical and creative thinking skills. Educators should be aware of the great opportunity that they have to teach students how to develop critical thinking skills through technology. Developing critical thinking skills in students is really important as Cottrell (2005) said “Critical thinking is a cognitive activity, associated with using the mind. Learning to think in critically analytical and evaluative ways means using mental processes such as attention, categorization, selection, and judgment”. These critical thinking skills can be developed using technology to create discussion forums about a certain issue in which students can communicate with their classmates, make reflections about their classmates’ comments or opinion, and in that way, teachers realize that students are engaging in the critical thinking process.
The technology usage in the classroom helps to develop students’ new ICTs literacies. Nowadays, in the schools, a group of technological tools are used to communicate, share, create and save information. For this reason, it is important that both teachers and students have sufficient knowledge of how to handle the use of ICTs tools. When students are proficient enough to use technology, they show it through some characteristics. According to ISTE (2008) “students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior and students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations”. Using technology in the classroom such as the internet, email and other apps can help to develop these skills in students since they have a close relationship with terms and uses of ICTs tools. In schools, it should be taught computer literacy since computers are the main tool used by teachers and students in the classroom. Simonson, Maurer, Montag-Torardi & Whitaker (1987) define computer literacy as “an understanding of computer characteristics, capabilities, and applications, as well as an ability to implement this knowledge in the skillful and productive use of computer applications suitable to the individual roles in society”. The importance of developing technical skills in students is growing everyday being that ICT has become a significant part of peoples’ lives. The use of technology in the classroom helps to transform the conventional teaching practices.
The use of technology in education contributes a lot in the pedagogical aspects in which the application of ICT will lead to effective learning with the help and supports from ICT elements and components (Jamieson-Procter et al., 2013). When students are using technological tools, the learning process is successful due to the fact that teachers are promoting learning through some tools which are more related to students because of the era in which they live. Negroponte, Resnick, and Cassell (1997) argue that:
Digital technologies can enable students to become more active and independent learners. The Internet will allow new ‘‘knowledge-building communities’’ in which children and adults from around the globe can collaborate and learn from each other. Computers will allow students to take charge of their own learning through direct exploration, expression, and experience. This shifts the student’s role from ‘‘being taught’’ to ‘‘learning’’ and the teacher’s role from ‘‘expert’’ to ‘‘collaborator’’ or ‘‘guide’’.
To sum up, technology usage has some significant advantage in the teaching-learning process due to the fact that it has good benefits for both teachers and students. The implementation of ICTs tools in the classroom has been increased a lot in the 21st century being that these tools have had a great impact on all the educational process. As Ghavifek and Rosdy (2015) said “education system has changed rapidly and this is due to the capability of technology to provide a proactive, easy access and comprehensive teaching and learning environment”. The technology usage brings excellent vantages such as developing students critical and creative thinking skills through communicate ideas, reflect on others’ opinions, or solve problems. Another good benefit is that using technology; students can be more proficient in what all about ICT means but also how to give a good use of it. Finally, transforming the teaching practice is a relevant advantage of using technology since it can change the way in which students learn and it would give a better, successful and effective learning process.
