The Benefits of Using Technology in Education
More than 60% of students maintain that technology integrated into their learning since the onset of COVID-19 has improved their understanding. However, student learning is only one of many areas that benefit from technological innovations. There’s an unmistakable link between educational impact and technology, from enrollment to degree completion. Here are some of the many reasons to implement technology in education.
- Providing an engaging learning environment: Technology continues revolutionizing our teaching and learning. It helps educators present information to students in formats that appeal to their learning styles, and collecting actionable data helps higher education institutions make a meaningful impact through strategic decision-making and communications outside the classroom. This engaging environment sparks curiosity, and students can take a proactive role in learning.
- Creating personalized learning opportunities: Through technology, students can learn at home, within the classroom, and in hybrid environments, and advanced analytics and reporting can assist institutions in identifying at-risk or struggling students and intervene to help them get back on track.
- Improving educator efficiency: Educators can leverage technology to achieve more productive and efficient outcomes, increase student support, and implement digital tools to expand student learning opportunities.
- Increasing collaboration: Collaborative skills are essential in the workplace, and using technology in education encourages students to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills. You can link classrooms and students worldwide, taking students beyond brick-and-mortar limitations. Partnership via innovative technology empowers educators to build a meaningful curriculum and connect it to an outcome-based education strategy.
- Taking education beyond exam results: Technology can provide students with opportunities to master a personalized, career-focused learning path. Engaging students outside the classroom with simple reminders to use all the tools at their disposal can enrich their learning experience, and customizable outcomes can boost student success on a holistic level, creating well-rounded and career-ready graduates.
- Meeting students where they are: Today’s students are digital natives and live with technology, so communicating in formats they’re comfortable with increases engagement and results in higher response rates.
- Increasing enrollment and retention: Access to labor market and internal data can boost enrollment, as institutions can create coursework valuable to students and current industry trends. If students know they will cover work that improves their career opportunities, they will likely enroll and complete their degrees.
Ways to use technology to increase educational impact
Education technology and AI can streamline processes, like assessment prep, personalize engagement with diverse student groups, and help educators build well-rounded curricula. There are many ways to leverage existing technology to boost educational impact.
Enrich the classroom
Clear curriculum mapping strategies help institutions define in-classroom objectives so institutions can leverage technology to enrich the classroom experience. These digital tools can help educators deliver personalized instruction and guidance.
Create a culture of engagement, reflection and action
When you can gather, reflect on, and understand the data you have, you can drive student success and improvement, eliminate redundant tasks, and create a proactive culture of continuous improvement. Robust analytics and reporting capabilities allow institutions to develop strategic objectives, measure real-time progress, and make the necessary changes to boost student success.
Support underserved students and increase retention
Technology enables institutions to measure student success and accurately flag at-risk students to advisers who can intervene and provide underserved students with proactive support. Institutions can access a wealth of existing data and turn the information into actionable insights.
Education-centered innovations also turn the student experience into a collaborative one, as students can engage with their advisers and create a personalized plan for success. Advisors and educators can also take a more active role in monitoring student progress, sending helpful alerts and notifications.
Make learning collaborative
Student feedback is essential for continuous improvement. Leverage technology to make it easy for students to share their thoughts from anywhere, so you can use these insights to inform decision-making. Create multimedia discussion boards, Q&A boards, polls, and surveys that speak to your goals and monitor areas that work and improve areas that require more attention.
Prepare students for successful careers
Higher education institutions should serve students long after graduation. Technology can help you elevate your assessment processes and take them beyond the classroom throughout the program. Administrators and educators can track student progress through field placement for internships and enable students to share their experiences with prospective employers. Students can go beyond what they learn in the classroom and leave the academic world with confidence.
Leverage all types of technology to increase educational impact
Today’s educational environment requires colleges and universities to address unique challenges, and innovative, purpose-built technology can change how you operate and drive student success. Education technology is at its most powerful when all the elements work together. Your collaborative tools, like assessment and feedback systems, assessment planning, and early warning systems for student success, can serve to form a comprehensive digital strategy for addressing challenges in education, so you can be sure you’re serving and supporting your students.
