We live in an era where technology has taken over many aspects of humanity. Technology is key to the success of every industry, and education is not left behind.
In the education sector, there has been a widespread integration of technological systems in learning. This move has made education more advanced than the traditional models, with other benefits like improved interest in learning and engagement.
However, despite the several benefits, modern technology in education has other negative impacts that need to be addressed. Find out how modern technology has negatively impacted education in the post.
How has modern technology negatively impacted education?
Like any other new thing, there is a standard rule that governs its usage called “moderation.” Uncontrolled over-usage and other factors can cause a negative impact on the whole learning experience. The section below explains these impacts.
1. Costly.
The current generation of millennials has substituted the use of pen and paper with computers and other high-tech devices like smartphones and tablets. While these devices offer more advanced and helpful features to the user, their costs of buying and maintenance cost their owners fortunes.
With these huge charges of device and system maintenance, implementing modern technologies in the education sector can be said to have made learning more expensive.
2. Inadequate teaching methods.
With the level of digital penetration currently, teachers have not adapted well to teaching with modern methods. Most instructors are used to the traditional teaching methods where they interact with learners face to face.
Implementing technology in education has removed the interaction part and allowed learners to study independently, lacking real-time guidance and consultation offered by teachers. This has negatively impacted students’ performance and knowledge retention.
3. Ease of loss of interest in learning.
Since most of the learning materials are online, learners might start forming lazy attitudes towards learning or bad study habits. Students may avoid going to school since they can get everything over the internet.
After all, there is no need to attend a lesson when you can google the topic and go through the answers alone. This has negatively impacted the performance rates of learners.
4. Misguided information from wrong information.
Digital advancement and the money aspect it comes with has made website owners concentrate more on making their sites rank in Google at the expense of quality and relevant information.
This reason has made many sites gather irrelevant information on different topics that are copy-pasted from that are not verified. Due to this, learners are often misguided, which usually harms their knowledge gain.
5. Creates room for cheating.
Technology is leading in creating lazy students. It provides the control and opportunity to manipulate things with a few mouse clicks. Although cheating is illegal, the widespread use of technology has made it easier for learners.
There are several instances where students can cheat without being caught; for example, students can use their phones to cheat in the examination halls. Also, high-tech devices come with unique features that make it easy to share information without a trace.
6. Sources of distraction.
Studies show that over 60% of learning institutions worldwide use modern devices such as smartphones and tablets to teach. And so students are also given these devices to facilitate their learning.
With the present penetration of social media, most learners use these learning materials to be active on social media instead of studying. Students are using them to keep up with their friends and families’ status updates and posts. And this is how the use of technology causes distraction among learners.
7. Students get withdrawn from the real world.
Interaction is a key factor in the social development of any human being. Without it, people develop abnormal behaviours and characters in society. Because modern technology uses digital tools for teaching and learning, it does not allow students to interact with each other and share their thoughts physically.
Also, teachers find it hard to draw students’ attention since they are not physically present. Ideally, students should learn the topics while also discussing and sharing their thoughts and problems with teachers.
Conclusion.
While it is undeniable that modern technology has revolutionized the education sector, it has its fair share of disadvantages and negative impacts. It creates lazy learners with poor study habits and sources of distraction, gives space for cheating, provides misguided information, and withdraws learners from real-world experience.