Technology is changing our world at an astonishing speed, and this is especially true in education. As learning methods continue to evolve and develop, the role of technology in education has increased. Ways of collaboration, being creative, and communication between students have been made more convenient due to the accessibility of these technologies. With the emergence of increasingly popular online spaces, students, peers, and teachers can connect and interact seamlessly. But, with phones, laptops, and social media taking the world by storm, should we be concerned about the control these tools have over us and how this will continue to affect us in the future?
The expediency of technology has benefited educators and students around the world alike; however, it has its drawbacks. Technology can harm us immensely, even if we do keep it in check. A commonly known threat presented by technology is its ability to distract you; particularly from schoolwork. Personally, I am guilty of getting sidetracked. When doing homework, videos are often assigned like TedTalks and Crash Course. The sidebars on these video streaming sites often have many other intriguing videos that I inevitably end up browsing, and I’m probably not alone in admitting that I’ve clicked and wasted a fair amount of time on these videos when I should be doing my homework.
I think it’s essential to advocate for self-directed learning when using technology. Homework is commonly assigned with the usage of the internet, and it is not optional. Most importantly, your learning abilities depend on your ability to stay focused. Self-control is a skill everyone should practice.
Technology has also made it so easy for people to do two things at once, but no matter how much I endeavor to be a multitasker; it’s never the best decision. Sometimes I wish I could be sitting in a local Beijing school without these distractions, holding a paper and pencil listening to the teacher. It would be a lot easier to focus when you don’t have any screens demanding your attention.
What do students and teachers from international schools in Beijing think of technology use in the classroom? To understand this topic more, I solicited the insight of educators and students from the International School of Beijing (ISB), Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), and Dulwich College Beijing (DCB).
Year 10 DCB student, Kate Y introduces her view on technology use at school by saying; “my relatively lightweight laptop is capable of holding vast amounts of data and information that can be accessed easily. However, on the flip side, technology can also be a distraction to students as opposed to being a learning tool. It may be difficult for teachers to monitor their students so closely in class to determine whether they are utilizing educational apps on their tablets or browsing Instagram.”
ISB teacher John Miller believes technology dramatically enhances students’ abilities to demonstrate knowledge in a variety of ways, but says educators need to recognize the drawbacks it brings to the users. He explains; “We all become dependent on our handheld devices and can get easily distracted by social media and the increasing use of technology has made it harder and harder for students to read pages of text. This is a necessary element of learning and producing new knowledge.”
Ashley Z, a student from ISB, finds technology to be beneficial; however, it can also hinder self-directed learning. “Students need to control themselves with their use of technology, because some students may be overly obsessed with social media and can use them for hours and hours, without getting any actual schoolwork or other academic work done,” she shared.
Technology has helped build our learning and allowed us to expand upon many things that we cover in class with ease. We live in a digitally engaged world. Technology is becoming a life skill; with a little more than half the population using it on a daily basis, we tend to avoid collaborating with people who don’t use it. Long story short, it isn’t an option.
It is clear that academic life would be quite different without technology. For me, researching would become quite challenging if I didn’t have constant access to fast Wi-Fi. Most educators in Beijing’s international schools support the use of technology. Its convenience gives students the ability to acquire new information faster than ever before. Teachers find convenience by educating students through interactive simulations. Of course, some of this could also be done with a paper, pencil, and a few books, but the accessibility, speed, and diversity of information and learning tools is hard to ignore.
Emmi T, a student from WAB, believes that the use of technology is beneficial to education through various online learning tools. “I think that using technology can help us easily communicate with teachers, access homework or other information, and I also make full use of helpful academic websites, such as Khan Academy, IXL, or No Red Ink.”
A teacher from an international school in Beijing who asked to remain anonymous shared her insights on teaching in a technologically active school environment. “Sometimes, their attention isn’t 100% focused on the lesson, and I feel in the long run this has a negative effect on the retention of information studied. There is also pretty conclusive evidence out there to suggest that we are more likely to remember something that we have read on paper, as opposed to if we see it on a screen. Therefore, I am a little skeptical about the overuse of technology in lessons and try to get the balance right” she shared.
The use of technology in educational systems should have useful purposes. I think overall students should learn how to control themselves and be self-directed learners. As we are all well aware, our laptops, tablets, and smartphones can provide a therapeutic escape from our academically demanding and stressful lives at times, but in the blink of an eye, it can sweep us off our feet and make us forget about our responsibilities. Therefore, being focused and knowing the right time to disconnect is essential. We are living privileged lives, and have many opportunities and tools at our disposal that many parts of the world can’t use to their educational advantage. But, it’s essential to remain vigilant and be in control of your devices, or they might just end up controlling you.
This article appeared in the beijingkids July-August 2019 Teen Takeover issue
Photo: Adobe Stock
