How Is Digital Learning Going To Change Schools And Education Research Paper

- Description
The technology of computers can be traced back historically whereby the history of computers from one stage to the next led to the successive enhancement in computer use. This development has greatly contributed to the improvement in the economy at largely ranging from government, health institutions, banks, transportation, business, academic institutions, and many others. This paper focuses on how digital teach which an outcome of computer technology is going to change schools and education. The development in computer technology has come with various benefits and even problems at the same time (Tatnall and Bill 2014).
The level and quality of education have also continued to improve as the historical development of computers parallels that of the computer generation. As an example, the first computer was an equivalent of the first-generation computers, which were harder to use, and therefore it was hard to train learners using this computer in learning institutions. As a result many academic institutions were not exposed to any digital form of learning. The same case applied to the second type that parallels the second generation of computers. These computers were still harder to use. In addition, they were still big to the size of the classroom. Consequently, many learning institutions could not embrace them as a form of digital learning. The succeeding computers started becoming a bit easier to use and many universities especially in the United States began using computers as a form of digital learning. This trend continued until the current form of computer, which is faster in operations and has short response time. The current computers are very accurate and more so user-friendly given that nearly all of them incorporates the use of graphical user interface (GUI). (Tatnall and Bill 2014).
GUI has made computers become user-friendly and thus learning computers has become easy. Many academic institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities in the whole world are now embracing computers as a form of digital learning. Many schools now use computers in learning operations not only in developed but also in developing countries. In fact the learning process in schools is now automated to the extent that students or pupils can carry out research through internet on particular topics without the help of teachers. It is, therefore, apparent that the development of computers and hence information technology (IT) continues to become the driver in digital learning. It is seen in making schools to become more advanced in ways of learning (Tatnall and Bill 2014).
- Development procedures
The first computer, which marked the first generation, was the electronic numeric integrator and calculator (ENIAC) in the early 1940’s. ENIAC computers were very huge, were very slow, less accurate, produced much heat, and were harder to learn and use. The problems of first-generation computers were later solved in the next stage of development called second-generation computers that used transistors between 1950’s and 1960’s. However, the second-generation computers were still big in size, harder to learn and use in addition to other problems it had. The third type of computers came between 60’s and 70’s that used integrated circuit (Chip). These computers defined the third generation of computers that were a bit easier to use and learn as compared to those of second generations. They had improved speed and accuracy and could solve all the problems of transistors. Then later came computers that use microprocessors, which are the fastest, accurate, and smaller, and solves all problems of an integrated circuit. The development of microprocessors also came in stages such as 8088, 80286, 80386, 80486, Pentium 1, Pentium 2, Pentium3, and Pentium 4 respectively. It is until now that computers with microprocessors are used in all sectors of the economy such as schools (Mann 2011).
- Benefits/Advantages
The development described above has come with several benefits. First is that students and pupils can now learn on their own on the internet using mobile or personal computers. In this way, the speed and quality of learning have improved in most schools thereby raising the education level. Second is that this digital learning aid has necessitated further development of schools. It is in such a way that many schools are now fitted with digital libraries where those without personal computers can go and carry out their own research at their free time. Next is that teachers way of teaching is also improved. Most teachers can now carry their soft copy notes and materials to class instead of using the previous hard copy that is either printed or handwritten. As a result, it is easier for teachers to not only carry out their research but also teach students by projecting notes from their laptops. It saves time that could have been wasted in writing since the soft copy materials can also have teaching aids and other demonstrations included within (Beatty 2013).
Another benefit is that the school administration is also enhanced by keeping electronic database of students and teachers. Other administrative benefits include easy school financial management through fees payment, easy computation and production of high-quality report forms for the students including easy storage of examination files securely by use of passwords and other encryption means. There is thus a high degree of accuracy and reliability in all the operations conducted using computers in schools.
Another benefit can also be seen from the music industry where digital technology is used in a wide range of applications such as performance, composition as well as recording and publishing. A great deal of this digital technology is freely available through downloads from the internet, as part of the software included with computers. However, some of these practices are still underway in some secondary school music classrooms. Meanwhile the teacher also adapts the material they present to students that are extremely capable technologically. General there will be continuity in the e-learning and change as the development of digital technology continues increase the pace (Wise, Greenwood & Davis 2011).
- Problems/Disadvantages
The development of computers, however, has also come with other shortcomings especially on the side of digital learning in schools. First is that students tend to be addicted to computers to the extent of using computers for other purposes such as playing games during lesson time. As a result, such students may not fully concentrate in class and eventuality this might lead to their low performance. There is also the issue of students wasting time watching things like pornography that may lower their moral values. As a result, there is likelihood of future moral decay in society given that schools will have become the source of immoral behaviors. It is instead of being the place where pupils and children are corrected in terms of their characters and behaviors. There is also the third disadvantage of this kind of development that is the encouragement of laziness. Since computers are faster and can carry out operations faster within the shortest response time. It implies that the computers now do most of the work that could have been done by the students. The students in the future are likely to rely so much on computers in nearly everything. It will eventually make them lazy to do things on their own. Another disadvantage is that in case of any blackout, all learning operations will be paralyzed for those schools that purely rely on softcopy notes from the computer. It is like saying that learning will only proceed depending on the time when the problems of power will be solved.
- Additional information
The additional information includes education research, education policy, and access of education, enrollment and online academic resources among others. The school researchers like tutors, teachers and professors can now carry out their research accurately and speedily using computer assisted methods for data analysis and interpretation such as SPSS, SAS and the rest. It ensures that the result of their research is reliable in terms of accuracy before they can be published for learners to read (Watson et al., 2011).
The access to education has also become easier as learners can simply enroll while at home via online for courses of their choices in any college or university of their preference. However, it is also true that the cost of education has gone up given that it is expensive to acquire digital equipment and devices needed for a smooth learning in schools and colleges. As a result, a number of individuals cannot afford to pay for the competitive education. To make it worse, the pace at which digital technology is advancing is too fast, yet the cost of education is also directly proportional to this pace of advancement. Nevertheless those who are in a position to pay for education can get access to the readily available academic resources online where they can study with ease. As at present, learners can decide to use online library that is more reliable and up to date as compared to traditional libraries with printed materials (Watson et al., 2011).
- Bibliography
Wise, S., Greenwood, J., & Davis, N., Teachers’ use of digital technology in secondary music education: illustrations of changing classrooms. British Journal of Music Education, 28(02), 117-134. (2011).
Watson, John, et al. "Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning: An Annual Review of Policy and Practice, 2011." Evergreen Education Group (2011).
Tatnall, Arthur, and Bill Davey. "History of the Use of Computers and Information Technology in Education in Universities and Schools in Victoria." ICT and Society. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2014. 214-225.
Mann, Susanna. "Learning the History of Computers: Engaging Students through 3D-animated Exhibition Design." International Journal of the Arts in Society 5.5 (2011).
Beatty, Ken. Teaching & Researching: Computer-Assisted Language Learning. Routledge, 2013.