Technology: Now Integral To The Classroom?

*This Is A Guest Post

Technology is taking an ever-growing and far reaching role in our lives. From the way that we make and maintain friendships, to the way that we take in information about the world around us, there is little that we do that is without the aid of technology.

Fifteen years ago the very idea of an online social network would have been far-fetched, relegated to the realm of science-fiction; today it is the norm. The same could be said for tablets. The tiny touchscreens that we live our lives through now are far from the bulky desktop computers and 16-bit mobile phones we used at the turn of the millennium. And technology continues to evolve and advance, changing the way that we live our lives in the process.

One area that modern technology is transforming is education, a fact which may come as a surprise considering the regimented nature of the school or university curriculum.

Harvard University have recently started a seminar which they intend to run annually, offering doctoral students the chance to learn about the best practices in using technology to support education. Yet it’s not just in higher education where these developments are making an impact: the potential for the use of cutting edge technology to enhance the learning abilities of younger students is also being realized.

Ian Warwick, senior director of London Gifted and Talented, wrote in the Guardian that “technology opens up spaces for really smart learners to explore.” While this may be primarily relating to its use in schools, the idea of using technology to develop a child’s education at home is one that is growing.

Leapfrog products, such as those offered through catalogue shopping at K&Co, showcase some of the more interesting ways that educational apps and games can be used to develop a child’s learning at home. Technology may be moving at a fast pace, but it is important to remember that this is often for the greater good, especially for the next generation.