Technology In Education: The Current Technology Used In Educational Institutions In Jamaica And Published Articles

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Abstract

This paper explores a topic that has been discussed among various educational authority figures from all around the world, Technology in Education. This paper examines the definition of educational technology, the current technology used in educational institutions in Jamaica and published articles that have reported on this topic are also explored in the paper. An article by (Patterson2015) which presented the view of the Jamaican Government incorporating technology in education. The use of technology for teaching and learning was mentioned in an article from the Jamaica Observer written by (Sutherland 2017), which is also explored in this paper and an image of Jamaican students using the new technology donated to them is also shown. There are also some advantages and disadvantages of using technology in education which may differ from author to author but we all can actually relate to these. These harmful effects of technology have already come to light in today’s world.

Technology in Education

According to education.stateuniversity.com, the term educational technology refers to the use of technology in educational settings, whether it be elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, corporate training sites, or independent study at home. Technology is rapidly expanding and changing the world each day. People from all around the world manipulate technology and use it every day. As technology evolves, it is used in various fields such as education, transportation, banking, business, medicine, etc. Since recent times technology in education has become very prevalent in Jamaica.

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In Chris Patterson’s (2015) article highlighting the Government Incorporating Technology in Education, it was found that in the year 2015, former Minister of Education, Rev. Hon. Ronald Thwaites, spoke about steps that are being taken to revolutionise the country’s education sector through the incorporation of technology. He also noted that the introduction and use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the classroom, coupled with traditional ways of imparting knowledge, which will only redound to the benefit of the country.

The mYLocker® e-learning platform was launched in 2015 and a pilot programme known as the ‘Tablets in Schools’ was one of the initiatives (see fig1 in appendix). This pilot programme (first began in 2014) was implemented in 38 educational institutions and the distribution of tablets was beneficial to approximately 24,000 students and 1,200 teachers in six pre-primary schools, 13 primary schools, five all age and junior high schools, 12 high schools, one teachers’ college, and one special education institution. The distribution of computers and multimedia devices, including interactive whiteboards/projectors, scanners, printers to pre-primary and primary schools; in addition to the installation of Wi-Fi at all 38 educational institutions was also a part of the initiative. The mYLocker® e-learning platform was the first of its kind in Jamaica and the Caribbean; it was developed by One-on-One Educational Services Limited. This innovation has allowed students to take all their high school courses on mobile devices, tablets, personal computers, laptops and even their television sets. (Patterson 2015)

In an article that was published in 2017(author unknown) it states that the future of learning is exciting because learning is becoming more personalised than ever. Education that infuses technology as part and parcel of life seamlessly integrates children with best practices of access to technology and allows them to be more responsible in using it. Within the E-learning framework, using the ‘E-version’ pf the text allows schools to always be updated with the latest versions. It is cheaper for stakeholders and also allows students to reap the benefits of having the very best instruction.

Parents have always been very concerned with the amount of ‘screen time’ their children have. It has been reported that they often complained that they want them to ‘go outside and play’ and actually get dirty. “We limit their screen time to the weekends or as a form of punishment partly because even though technology is undeniably within our own DNA, we ask our children to ‘gear down’ when it comes to interweaving it within their own lives, even though when we are stumped, we ask them to intervene and fix it for us. It therefore can be said to be hypocritical to insist that we expect 100 per cent digital immersion, but we ask our children to ‘gear down’ at school, where they spend the majority of their day.” (October 2017)

In Alicia’s article, former regional director for the Ministry of Education’s Region 6 in 2017 stated that “Thanks to the internet and mobile technology, students and any other learner, for that matter, can access information on any of the wide range of subjects that you now do or you pursue in the education system. Students can now use their new technology such as computers and tablets to their own advantage to do research and easily learn at their own pace.

Technology imparted in educational institutions are not only used by students but also teachers and lecturers. While computers and tablets are mostly used by students within the classroom, teachers use multimedia devices such as interactive whiteboards/projectors, scanners and printers. These technological devices, of course with internet access are beneficial to both teachers and students.

She also added, “Because there is educational material from the kindergarten level to the university level, computer technology can and does enhance literacy development. One needs just to look at how enthused and how motivated the children are when they take out their tablets. At this point in time, I just want to give kudos to those who conceptualised the whole matter of the Tablets in School Programme.”

“Blended learning – with technology combining the traditional classroom approach integrated within schools – should be standard. For one, infusing technology maximises learning potential and human potential.” Was mentioned in the Jamaica Gleaner on October 2017.

According to futureofworking.com, technology is one of the most valuable tools that we have available at our finger tips every day. Many people believe that the abundance of technology in our schools is hindering student’s ability to think for themselves and learn old style methods of research. However, people who support the use of technology in the class room argue that they no longer have to but learning all of the advantages and disadvantages of having technology in the classroom can certainly give you a well-rounded and informed opinion. Some advantages of technology in education are:

The Information Highway- Answers to any question can be found with just a few clicks of the keys on the computer or smart phone. Powerful search engines allow an organized and simply way to find the answers that students may need for assignments or projects.

Broaden the mind- Having access to the technology exposes children to things outside of their parents interests and help them to form their own opinions.

Brings some fun into the classroom- Learning the same exact way from the same person every day can sometimes get really boring. This boredom can then turn into a lack of motivation in the students. However, when they are able to integrate computer learning into their normal schedule, they become much more excited to learn.

Applicable Education- In Jamaica’s working world, in nearly every job you may take, you have to know how to operate a computer. Teaching this skill in children early will give them an advantage and a learning curve for when they are adults.

While technology in education is good and very beneficial it does have its disadvantages. Some of these include:

Access to inappropriate content- When it comes to the use of technology in schools, one of the biggest concerns is how inappropriate materials such as: pornography, and violent contents, etc. can be easily accessed and viewed by children. This could therefore lead to big problems if the material is shared with other students while in the classroom.

A disconnected youth- People are attached to their screens almost 24/7, which is causing an entirely new set of social issues to pop up. This translates into the school system in a bit of a different way, however. More and more students are experiencing social anxieties when it comes to face to face interactions, but are perfectly fine socializing online.

The cyberbullying trap- Giving students access to anonymous accounts and endless contact avenues can only lead to trouble. Cyberbullying has become a real and in our face problem among young people today in Jamaica. This harassment has no end, which includes the class room. There is also no way to monitor or discipline students who are involved.

Inevitable cheating and Plagiarism- While having an easy access to information may seem like a great thing, it can become a real problem in a test taking environment. Technology has given rise to cheating and plagiarism. Students definitely think it’s ok to just copy and paste people’s work without giving credit which is wrong.

Conclusion

In the light of the foregoing, the author has reached the consensus that technology in education has become widely used in many educational institutions in Jamaica. It is obvious that the fast growth of the internet and technology has given students opportunities to conduct researches and study at their own advantage and pace using computers, smartphones and tablets. Though the use of technology in education has been beneficial in which it broadens the mind, gives a wide variation of information, brings fun into the classroom etc. however, it does have some downfalls such as cyberbullying and access to inappropriate information etc.

References

  1. 10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Education. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2019, from https://futureofworking.com/10-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-technology-in-education/
  2. Jamaica Observer Limited, & Sutherland, A. (2017, October 26). Use technology for teaching and learning, educators urge. Retrieved March 1, 2019, from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/use-technology-for-teaching-and-learning-educators-urge_114810?profile=1373
  3. Patterson, C. (2015, March 04). Gov’t Incorporating Technology in Education. Retrieved March 1, 2019, from https://jis.gov.jm/govt-incorporating-technology-education/
  4. Blended learning – integrating technology in classrooms. (2017, October 22). Retrieved March 1, 2019, from http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/art-leisure/20171022/blended-learning-integrating-technology-classrooms
  5. Technology in Education – School. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7, 2019, from https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2495/Technology-in-Education-SCHOOL.html
  6. Mata, W. (2016, June 23). 10 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved March 14, 2019, from https://centretechnologies.com/importance-of-technology-in-the-classroom/

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