EdTech is no longer a trend. All good schools around the globe have adopted technology in some form to enhance the process of educating their students. But when we talk about using technology in classrooms, what do we actually mean? Is having a smartboard or a projector screen enough? Certainly, the role of technology in modern education goes beyond. The scope of EdTech in education is massive, and schools need to harness it to realise the optimal form of blended learning. No one can overstatethe importance of technology in education. The confusion, however, remains on its exact role in modern classrooms.

Technology should enable visualizationSmartboards or projectors used in the classrooms can help with visualisation. For example, students can look at a virtual model of the solar system to improve their understanding. For ages, understanding the information in textbooks was left to the students. Many students could not get a clear understanding of their subjects due to a lack of visualisation. But with a virtual model displayed on the screen, students can learn quickly that the Earth goes around the Sun, Mars comes after Earth, and Jupiter is way bigger than Earth – all in one class. Visualisation accelerates learning and leads to better retention.

Technology should involve personalizationThat is where the role of technology leaves smartboards and projectors. Education technology today can be used not only to teach students complex topics but alsoto track their progress, plan their homework, assess their assignments, and provide individual attention. Digitalclassrooms do not allow students to get lost in the crowd. Teachers get the tools to personalise education as per a student’s specific needs and handover the data when the child moves from one class to another. Right from tracking absenteeism rate to designing special home assignments, EdTech can finally bring education to students in a form that they can relate to closely.

Technology should diversify learning

The greatest gift of the internet has been universal knowledge. Anyone, anywhere, can access information on a wide range of topics from any source. This has the potential of diversifying the school curriculum. Students also have the scope to expand their learning beyond the prescribed textbooks. Modern schools should employ technology to open up the field of obtaining knowledge. Students can then explore, feed their curiosity, form new ideas, and test outrageous theories. The school library can have eBook subscriptions along with paperbacks and hardcopies. Magazines and scientific journals could also be available for discovery and exploration. Technology today can create ever-curious and life-long learners.

Technology should implement modern learning models

Peer-to-peer learning is effective in accelerating learning and creating knowledge depth. Inquiry-based learning and problem-based learning have also shown similar results. When students learn through these learning models in combination with the direct-lecture method, their learning becomes higher than the prevalent global average.EdTech can help teachers employ all these learning models in a school year. With cloud technology, peer-to-peer learning is possible. With education applications and games, inquiry- and problem-based learning can be employed. School education has to include these elements to meet the demands of the modern world.

Technology should break the monotonyIt is fun to learn from a YouTube video. It is fun to write an assignment in PowerPoint and submit it over email. One of the greatest reasons why children tend to become averse to education is monotony. Education technology can break that. It can add the missing fun element into education. Teachers can mix up their lessons to include both video and textbook learning. An essay can teach as much as watching a documentary in class. When students are engaged, they learn naturally and education stops being a struggle.

This is why Wise Oaks International School in Singapore has been adopting the latest educational technology trends. The school always remains a step ahead inmodernizingits teaching methods and has invested in all the necessary tools. When used right, technology has benefits that raise the benchmark of learning at every step, and Wise Oaks achieves that in its blended digital classrooms. The role of technology in modern classrooms is clear. It enables students to embrace knowledge and skill development rather than simply floating through the school years.