Read Instructions

How Technology Has Helped and Hindered Learning

Like almost every facet of modern life, technological advancements have profoundly
altered education. Technology has made it easier for people to get an education. Massive
volumes of knowledge (books, photos, music, and video) are now accessible through the Internet
at the touch of a button. Formal education possibilities are available across the globe via
MOOCs, podcasts, and more. Technology has opened up a whole new world of educational
possibilities. Accordingly, the crux of this essay is to examine the influence of technology on
learning.

The Positive Influence

The availability of communication and collaboration tools has grown due to
technological advancements. Learners in the same class or building were traditionally the only
ones who could collaborate on projects. Today's technology makes it possible to communicate
and collaborate in unimaginable ways (Ahmadi & Reza, 2018). To study the Arctic, for instance,
students in faraway U.S. schools may follow a team of scientists' excursions in the region, read
scientists' blog posts and photographs, e-mail their queries directly to scientists, and even
videoconferences with them. By sharing information, teachers and students may cooperate on the
same expedition. Platforms such as Google Docs and wikis enable students to collaborate on
group assignments. Due to the power of technology, learning, communication, and collaboration
in the classroom are no longer hindered.

The Negative Influence

A child’s brain development is likely to be harmed or misinformed by early (passive)
contact with technology rather than people. This is because babies learn best by engaging with
the natural environment and with other human beings around them. To our disadvantage, as we

3
get older, screen time increasingly takes the place of time spent exercising or socializing with
others. It may even replace the ability to regulate one's emotions. Adolescents and young adults
have also been linked to poorer grades and attention problems due to technology's presence in
school settings (Zabatiero et al., 2018). Regarding learning, our brains are not capable of
multitasking. Technology frequently represents more than one extra "task" because of the diverse
applications and programs loaded on and alerts via a single device.
In conclusion, using technology in educational settings has potential advantages and
disadvantages. Even though there are currently more questions than answers on this issue, there
is evidence to suggest that technology may enhance successful teaching and learning in the hands
of skilled educators. Technology can be a helpful tool for educators in the complicated, human
labor of teaching. Still, we must consider the dangers as we understand them to benefit from their
advantages.

4

References

Ahmadi, D., & Reza, M. (2018). The use of technology in English language learning: A
literature review. International Journal of Research in English Education, 3(2), 115-125.
Zabatiero, J., Straker, L., Mantilla, A., Edwards, S., & Danby, S. (2018). Young children and
digital technology: Australian early childhood education and care sector adults’
perspectives. Australasian journal of early childhood, 43(2), 14-22.