Does Technology in the Classroom Help or Harm Students?

Technology in education is the biggest change in teaching we will ever see. During all this semester we have seen the importance of using technology in classroom.
Now we all know the benefits of it, but have you ever thought about the disadvantages?

On one hand, technology allows you to experiment in pedagogy and to engage students, but on the other hand, technology in the classroom can be distracting and even foster cheating. The use of hi-tech mechanization literally can hinder the steps of learning.

When using technology, teachers must be aware of the potential obstacles that technology can bring to the learning process. Some negative effects of technology in today’s classroom are that it can take away valuable learning time, it can be overused, and it can also turn educational experiences into games for students who may miss the point of the lesson.

Lost Learning Time: If the teacher and students are not experienced with technology in the classroom, valuable time is often wasted on technical troubles. In addition, the teacher faces the difficulty of having a class full of students who are all at different skill levels. In many schools, most students will have a computer and Internet access, but schools that are located in poor areas may have a lot of students who don't know how to use the computer. While it is important to educate these children in technology, it must be done at a pace that meets every individual’s needs or more learning time will be wasted.

Overuse and Distraction: In some classrooms technology is overused. This can lead to a variety of problems. Many students learn best by physically and mentally interacting with what they are studying. If most of the teaching is done with computer images or PowerPoint lectures, students’ needs are not being met. Technology should be used to supplement the classroom curriculum, but should not be used as the sole source of learning.

Game playing: One problem that many classroom teachers face is that students often use computers primarily for games. Because of this, many students associate computers and technology with game playing. Because students associate computers with game playing, they may try their skills at hacking, without thinking through the consequences. Surfing the Internet just for fun can result in children finding sites that are not age appropriate.