Education is the driver of social growth, which translates into economic and political prosperity. Countries that focused on education to bring forth informed and intellectually sound generations are the ones prospering today. On the other hand, those who did not accord the required attention to this arena are the ones struggling to compete. In essence, education serves as the foundation of a prosperous society. Ranging from political awareness to entrepreneurship, education plays a vital role in various sectors. It has domestic as well as international implications for society.
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Technology and Progress
Technology has allowed humanity to progress smoothly. It has not only enabled mankind to tap into previously unexplored avenues but has also simplified day-to-day life. Decades ago, things that used to be unimaginable, such as the prospect of carrying a library of books in your pocket, are now the order of the day. Given how technology plays a critical role in our everyday life, it is only natural for it to drive education forward as well.
During the coronavirus pandemic, while the world was struggling to make sense of the changing social patterns, technology paved the way for organizations and educational institutions to continue their operations. While many people used remote communication tools to continue working for their companies from their homes, educational institutions also used the same to impart education to their students. This led to a wide acceptance of these tools specifically and remote education in general. In the aftermath of this digital revolution, many aspects of education got the validation they sought. For example, the masses started seeing various online registered nurse programs were seen as credible as in-person programs.
So, if you are a student, teacher, administrator, or are affiliated with the education sector, this article is for you. Following is the list of ways you can leverage technology for education:
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Remote Learning
As mentioned above, technology allowed educational institutions to continue studies as the world tried to restrict social interactions to curb the spread of coronavirus. While various tools were already in place, they were not used in normal circumstances. But as the schools and colleges were forced to shut their doors to the students, these tools became the standard. Classes were conducted through Zoom or Microsoft Teams, and quizzes were conducted through other digital tools.
Now, when the world is returning to normalcy, these tools are still widely used by the education sector. If you are living in a developing country and would like state-of-the-art education from a reputed institution, you do not have to travel there. Rather, you can pursue a qualification from your home country. Besides, there are various free educational programs you can enroll yourself in to make maximum use of the opportunities that are available to you.
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Research
Back in the day, if you needed to look at primary or secondary sources for your research, you had to visit libraries and dig through countless books to find the information you were looking for. However, things have changed nowadays. Research does not involve as much physical labor as it did in the past when you had to shuffle between libraries. This means that you are spared enough energy to focus properly on the information that is now available to you.
If you are pursuing a research degree, your educational institution may have given you access to a virtual repository of credible research papers. JSTOR is among the most noteworthy names and allows you to find exactly what you are looking for. If you have access to multiple sources, Google Scholar can help you find a variety of sources you might find helpful. Similarly, you can also borrow books from digital libraries or buy digital copies of books instead of waiting for them to be delivered. The last one applies to books that have to be imported.
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Multimedia Resources
Education does not have to be boring. Gone are the days when classrooms would have teachers delivering lectures to an unresponsive student audience. Well, to be honest, this sight can still be seen in many parts of the world, but things are changing. Unless the classes are interactive, a teacher cannot engage their students to make the best of their time to learn things in greater detail. Besides, an unresponsive audience can make it hard for a teacher to gauge the level of understanding of their students.
So, one way of making the classes more interactive is to use multimedia resources. This includes using images or videos to help the students visualize the information they are being fed. For example, a history class might benefit from movies on notable incidents of the 20th century. Similarly, students struggling with mathematics can learn better if 3D animations are used to help them visualize things that can otherwise only be understood abstractly.
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Self-Learning
If you are a dropout or if you are interested in learning about something that differs from your area of education in college, technology can be helpful in this regard. One of the major advantages of living in the digital age is that there are many avenues available for a person to learn things on their own. They do not have to attend physical classes or enroll in courses to learn these things. Free alternatives exist to help them learn at their own pace.
This applies to various disciplines, such as computer science, marketing, and social media management. There are many good tutorials available on YouTube and other platforms that can help you learn about things you are interested in. Moreover, there are interactive platforms for learning to code that can help you practice your skills as you learn them. This can certainly make the experience unique and allow you to develop a deeper understanding of the things you are trying to learn.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier in the article, education and technology go hand in hand. The points listed above can help you leverage technology for education. They can certainly help you make the most of the opportunities offered by the digital age.
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