Pros & Cons of Technology in the Classroom in 2021
Technology in education is the biggest change in teaching we will ever see. For years, policymakers, teachers, parents, and students alike have been weighing the potential benefits of technology in education against its risks and consequences.
Prior to March 2020, some would say that technology allowed us to experiment in pedagogy, democratize the classroom and reach Generation Z students. But after 2020, technology in education has become essential—especially as the COVID-19 pandemic forced higher ed and public schools to swap face-to-face instruction for distance learning.
As an educator, I have used countless apps and technologies and I would like to share the best practices for using technology in the classroom—and offer workable solutions that will help you meet the needs of your students.
How technology can support learning outcomes for today’s students
Students are digital natives. They’ve grown up with technology; it’s woven into their lives. In fact, it’s one of the basic 21st-century skills that they’ll need in school and the workplace.
Technology integration in the classroom now begins during elementary school and carries through to high school and higher education. But using computer technology in the classroom isn’t just about digital devices in class—it relates to anything that facilitates interaction between teacher and student. Technology in education programs could be seen as a culprit, or it could be harnessed to improve student engagement and effectiveness—and that’s what I will discuss below.
Types of classroom technology
Education technology allows you to engage, interact with, and inspire students in and out of your class. Plus, certain types of technology tools like podcasts or video streaming platforms can help meet the unique learning styles of your cohort. Many of the technologies below are used to operate online education programs—including lectures, labs, group meetings, or class tutorials. Plenty of higher education institutions has already integrated some of the following technology tools into their degree programs today (Kelly, 2018).
- Learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Moodle and Blackboard allow you to manage courses, assign homework and tests, and track student grades.
- Digital courseware such as ebook products by Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Macmillan can be used to create and distribute teaching resources (such as textbooks or question packs) to students as a way to create engaging homework experiences.
- Classroom response systems including iClicker and Poll Everywhere help students reflect on their learning via polls or discussions in class.
- Virtual classroom tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom are used to host synchronous online lectures and let participants engage in breakout rooms or ‘share their screen’ with one another.
- Remote proctoring software like Proctorio and Honorlock help maintain academic integrity by monitoring student behavior during tests and flag behavior indicative of cheating.
Next, I will look at the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom. I will also share the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the classroom when incorporating new digital teaching and assessment techniques into your lesson plans.
Pros and cons of using technology for student engagement
The pros:
1. Technology in the classroom helps ensure full participation
Online polling and other digital tools help to engage all students, including shy students who wouldn’t normally raise their hands in class. Online engagement systems allow you to regularly check in with students for feedback on course materials and assignments. Student insights can also be used to help spot areas where learners might be struggling (Stephens & Robert, 2017).
Student response systems help learners measure their understanding of a topic while professors can see what areas they need to review. For instance, iClicker offers questions that may be multiple choice or true or false. Students are then asked to identify a correct answer to a question in exchange for participation points from a professor. Clickers, virtual classroom software, and assessment platforms like Socrative or Kahoot! can make for great engagement tools for educators looking to enhance their lectures. Student response systems help foster digital citizenship in the classroom and give students an opportunity to engage in class and get rewarded for it at the same time.
2. Using technology in the classroom allows you to experiment more in pedagogy and get instant feedback
Technology allows for more active learning. You can increase engagement through online polling or asking quiz questions during online lectures, with instantaneous results. If you’re using a digital textbook, the subject matter is dynamic and timely with embedded links to relevant materials or immersive multimedia.
Whether adding a single tool for a specific project or term or making a more dramatic change such as a flipped classroom, being well-versed in technology can help build credibility with students and even fellow colleagues. Video conferencing software, live polls, and discussion boards are all ways to form feedback loops with your students. An LMS such as Moodle and polling software like Poll Everywhere can also help educators get an instant understanding of student comprehension.
3. There are countless resources for enhancing education and making learning more fun and effective
From apps and e-textbooks to organizational platforms, there’s no shortage of tools that can transform the classroom. Some instructors are turning toward classroom ‘gamification,’ the use of competitive scenarios, and the distribution of points and rewards to make the online classroom more fun and engaging. The key to ensuring these methods are also effective is designing them to support your course learning objectives. Digital storytelling, where students use simulations to immerse themselves in a fictional environment, can make learning more exciting and relatable for students. Gamification also allows for interactive lessons and can reduce passivity in the classroom. Such as using Prezi uses a canvas-based approach, with one large canvas that your presentation moves around on, zooming in and out to view various frames. With 100 million users today, Prezi is probably best known for its “zoomable” canvas that enables users to plot and visualize the various components of their presentation. Last year, the company launched Prezi Video
, and it has been adding more options to the mix, including a recently announced “video-in-videoAbove: Prezi CEO Jim Szafranski demoing video-in-video
Some gamification activities introduce healthy competition to
your class. In role-play, for example, students are asked to pose arguments on behalf of historical figures. Technology can greatly aid the implementation of classroom games, while students may be incentivized to complete their assessments. Blended learning can also play an effective role here, whereby student curriculum is partially delivered in person and partially via digital means. With one-to-one devices becoming more accessible to students, integrating technology, content and pedagogy become easier for educators. Using multiple technology resources can create various learning opportunities for students to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and the demonstration of understanding (Darling-Hammond et al., 2020).
4. Technology makes it simple for students to collaborate and engage in group work outside of class
Gone are the days when one student was tasked with creating a PowerPoint presentation for a group. Through technology, students can start working on a project together in class and seamlessly collaborate, communicate and bounce ideas off one another using social media, interactive whiteboards, and more. Physical and social barriers no longer exist, letting students work together from anywhere and at any time. Technology has also enabled students to engage in spontaneous discussions and find instant answers to problems or questions they may have about a topic.
The cons:
1. Technology in the classroom can be a distraction
Tech-savvy students may find it hard to concentrate in class when a wide range of digital devices are around them. It can be hard to keep students’ attention while lecturing behind a screen, but James Lang (Dhami,2020) Professor of English and the Director of the D’Amour Center for Teaching Excellence at Assumption College, has a solution. Lang argues that change renews attention—meaning that if students are starting to tune out, it’s time to incorporate opportunities for class discussions. Lang calls these moments ‘signature attention activities’ as they are designed to spark engagement in the midst of a slump.
2. Technology can disconnect students from social interactions
Many people are skeptical of technology and what it does to students, and everyone else’s, ability to verbally communicate.
By creating assignments in class that use both technological tools as well as oral presentations and group collaboration, student learning has the potential to become more dynamic and interactive. Participation can also go beyond verbal communication. Consider how your LMS, discussion board, or live chat can be leveraged to increase student engagement.
3. Technology can foster cheating in class and on assignments
Students have always found ways to cheat, but the digital age makes it even easier—from copying and pasting someone else’s work to hiring an essay-writer from an online essay mill. Here, digital technology could end up hindering students’ professional development.
While technology could be seen as yet another avenue for cheating, it’s possible to structure assignments and exams in a way that makes cheating difficult. Alternatively, you can make exams open-book and focus on problem-solving and mastery rather than retention. Some classroom software allows you to set questions that are subtly different for every student, making them focus on the technique rather than the answer. Ed-tech software such as Turnitin is already well-established in most higher education settings. With COVID-19, some institutions have relied on proctoring software to maintain academic integrity from a distance. These assistive tools can help professors maintain academic integrity.
4. Classroom technology doesn’t necessarily make students more accountable
While it can certainly help, technology use in the classroom doesn’t always mean students are more likely to stay on top of their deliverables. For example, it can be tricky to know if your students are viewing the full lecture recordings or coming to class having completed their assigned readings. Social media and other ed-tech platforms don’t necessarily indicate completion. Some LMS providers may show if a student has opened a file, but that only says so much. Whether students have reviewed, absorbed, and are able to retain that information is a question that—like traditional learning materials—not all classroom tech can solve.
Technology in the Classroom: The final verdict
It’s clear that the benefits of technology in the classroom outweigh the cons. But the key to technology in the classroom is always going to be the teacher-student relationship because that’s where education happens. Technology can be a highly effective tool, but that’s all it is—a tool. In today’s hyper-connected world, sensible use of technology can enhance education.
References
Darling-Hammond, L., Flook, L., Cook-Harvey, C., Barron, B., & Osher, D. (2020). Implications for the educational practice of the science of learning and development. Applied Developmental Science, 24(2), 97-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1537791.
Kelly, R. (2018, January 11). 7 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2018. https://campustechnology.com/Articles/2018/01/11/7-Ed-Tech-Trends-to-Watch-in-2018.aspx?Page=1
Stephens, G. E., & Roberts, K. L. (2017). Facilitating collaboration in online groups. Journal of Educators Online, 14(1), 20–35.
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