In this early stage of EC&I 833, I would want to discuss my perspective of educational technology — how I comprehend it and how I have been using it for the past decade as an educator. In my personal understanding, the utilization of technology has its pros and cons; as for what weighs more is difficult to truly define.
From my own experience, using technology in teaching is convenient in the sense that I can provide students with a gamut of learning materials online – before, during, and after class. Before classes begin, I post advanced readings for the students to read. During class, I use the ever-popular PowerPoint, and I show some educational videos. After class, my students can ask questions online, and I post follow-up questions for them to answer. I found this to be convenient especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein, for two years, classes were fully online. However, it had its limitations. First of all, I was not able to totally monitor my class effectively. Second, I was not sure if students fully understood the topics I was teaching them, because it was difficult for me to gauge their true insights from the laptop screen. This leads to what Neil Postman mentioned in his talk in 1998, in which he explained that the first idea is that all technological change is a trade-off. Advancement in technology, according to Postman, may bring unmixed blessings to society, and technology in education is not spared. An article by the United Nations even mentions that technology in education can threaten privacy and even fuel inequality, as not all students have access to some forms of educational technologies. Another article by Telefonica states that technology in education promotes student flexibility and autonomy, it also distracts students, wherein social networks, chats, and unnecessary web pages take away students’ attention from the subject matter.
In educational technology, it is essential to consider the different forms of communication, as explained historically by Tony Bates in the chapter A Short History of Educational Technology, from his book Teaching in a Digital Age. He explains oral communication, written communication, broadcasting and video, and computer technologies historically. From the long history of written communication, such as the Bible, to folklore and stories transmitted from one generation to another (oral communication), to the early era of television and radio broadcast, what Bates explained is still relatable to the 21st century. No matted how advanced technology is used in education, going back to basics such as good oral and written communication are still what educators should aim. This will ensure that the students do not just rely on technology usage in learning, but in communicating properly with their teachers, and vice versa.
Based on Bates’ explanations in the preceding paragraph, the various mediums of communication should work hand-in-hand, in order for educational instruction to succeed. Educators must not only concentrate on advance educational tools — they must also have proper oral and written communication to and with the students.
Overall, I view the advancement in educational technology to be more of a pro rather than a con. I appreciate its convenience, as a teacher and as a graduate student. As a PhD student now, I can download and read articles wherever I am. Furthermore, as a teacher, I can easily communicate with my students in a faster manner, even when there are days of no classes. However, one must not totally rely on the various forms of technology, rather, use those as tools in order to teach in a better and more complete manner. With the proper tools and proper communication, teachers will be able equip their students better for the future.