Absolutely!

Looking back at my high school days, there wasn’t much technology in Nigeria talkless of the classroom. The struggle was real. As a student, I took everything my teacher said hook line and sinker. There were no other opinions.

Such a burden on the teacher, whew! 

These are my opinions drawn from the debate……

There was a time when students only had access to just their teacher’s point of view and explanation. Now, students are able to get clarification online giving room for better understanding. Just maybe I would have been good in mathematics if I had access to khan academy and such resources rather than just the textbook and my teacher’s explanation. Moreso, online resources can be used to find updated information about literarily everything. Like my husband says, google is your friend (though annoying, I have found that to be true).

This can bring boring subjects to life by incorporating videos, virtual lessons, games, and so on. This makes learning easier for all kinds of learners. For instance, I am a visual learner, being able to watch videos helps give me a mental picture which translates to understanding.

Using technology in the classroom is like using a stone to kill two birds

You will agree with me that technology is the future. Students now have the opportunity of learning school work and how to maneuver gadgets concurrently. I had to go to a computer school after high school to learn about ‘control C’ and the like. With the exposure students are getting now, they get to know the nitty-gritty of using technology gadgets better than people like me that did not have access to technology in my classroom.

Technology as a tool in the classroom carries every type of learner along.

Auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and every kind of learner is carried along when technological gadgets are employed in the classroom. Compared to the traditional method which often does not carry everyone along.

Technology in the classroom can make learning fun and easy to remember.

Incorporating technology devices in teaching can make time spent in the classroom more productive.

Still referencing my school days, I can say that I spent more time copying notes than I did learning. Yet sometimes notebooks get stolen and one is left hanging or one has to rewrite. The integration of technology has changed this narrative. Both the teacher and students can now spend time on the crux of the lesson.

It improves students’ engagement.

Although it is questionable what students are engaged with using a technology tool. Is it the colorful video that is getting their attention, the voice, or the technicality of the technological gadgets? However, students often pay rapt attention to lessons that incorporate the use of technology devices in the classroom.

Students can tailor their learning to suit them. 

Allows for differentiated learning resources.

Narrows limitation to knowledge

The goal of every teacher is for their students to flourish! Hence, we ought to set them up for the outside world. We know that technology is very much the present, and definitely, the future!

Dami’s View

I cannot deny the daily blessings of technology in my daily life. Have you ever imagined how food was preserved prior to refrigerators being introduced? We are familiar with the mode of transportation back then, thanks to movies! The gaps technology has helped to bridge, the limitations it has taken care of. At the moment, I am blessed to be taking my master’s classes in the comfort of my room. Even if that isn’t the best, as a mother, I am super glad I have this option. Learning on zoom and other platforms has been pivotal to my staying sane these past years.

When I was pregnant with my son three years ago, with no family member present, google was literarily my best friend!

I felt a kick that felt like the baby wants to come out of my belly button, is that normal?

Why do I feel like chewing ice?

And three years later, I still can’t quantify how much technology has been a blessing to me.

Giving so many accolades to technology has not blinded me from its dangers. However, the blessings to me supersede the cons. I have been conscious to use it in moderation and have a balance. Just like every other thing in life, excess of everything is bad. In summary, my daily life starts with my phone and ends with my phone, I watch movies and like to read feeds on social media platforms. I am working on using information communications technology more productively (like this blog) and in other ways too.