TECHNOLOGY+BANE+OR+BOON_+CAR

The world is constantly changing and ways in which we function at home, work and school are also changing. We, the people of Generation X, are now embracing the modernized culture. The speed at which technology has developed plays a major role in these changes but when technology becomes boon or bane particularly in our educational system? TECHNOLOGY AS A BOON The use of Technology, computers in particular in the School is very influential in our lives because it enhances the learning process in various ways. Technology is forcing educators to re-evaluate the very nature of what and how they teach. Having the students use technology to help them express themselves whether it is through video, blogging, or writing is a valuable interactive tool. The latest inventions of humankind dramatically improved our life. Nowadays we can move from one place to another more quickly, we do not spend much time cooking, we have many different resources of information and means of communication. So, our life now is more dynamic and changeable. Gone were the days we receive a huge amount of information and process it. We, students at the same time have more resources to get information we need. We can go to a library, the nearest bookstore, or borrow it from a friend or even download it from an Internet. I think It is great. Instead of waiting for one's turn to get a book in a library, one can print it from a file downloaded earlier. The great thing about it that one can print only those pages he is interested in. As far as Internet is concern, with the rapid development of the internet technology, nowadays, students are provided with a large resource of information. Paired with internet, one could key in some key words into the computer, and few minutes later, tons of pertinent information would be presented. This is a great revolution which is unimaginable for our ancestors. This rapid and useful tool is now widely accepted and preferred by students. TECHNOLOGY AS A BANE Technology still has its limitations and disadvantages. The overused of technology particularly the computers in school will increase educational costs and harm the equity of education. Like for instance, when computers become a new basic requirement for student to purchase, low budget schools and low income students usually cannot afford a computer. It will probably cause unfair educational conditions for those poor schools and students. On the other hand, expensive hardware and software also becomes the big obligations for schools and parents. It is again a burden to the part of parents. Technology available today has made a wealth of knowledge available to students, which offers great potentials for the speed and style of learning but with this increased access to knowledge also comes probable loss of communication skills and interactive abilities between students and teachers, and students to peers. These skills are not as necessary in a classroom of computers, where individuality is a component of learning and is encouraged. Aside from learning, conflict resolution and socialization used to be two prominent reasons children came to school. The emphasis now has shifted away from these areas. But this I tell you, the disadvantages of technology cannot be totally eliminated but can be minimized. Therefore, Technology can enhance traditional methods of learning but cannot replace the human touch. Ultimately, the quality of the class will depend solely on the quality of the teacher and not the presence of technology. It is really a manifestation that technology has been beneficial in many ways.