Introduction
Technology has extensively affected nearly all aspects of life in the modern world, including education. Unlike in the past years, modern-day learners use computers and mobile phones among other technologies to learn new concepts, carry out research, and complete their homework, while teachers use technology to improve their lessons. Technology has significantly transformed education in a number of ways, including expanding access to education by expanding opportunities to access formal learning through internet-enabled platforms, as well as access to learning resources, including books among others. Despite the huge benefits that technology has presented to education, it has faced extensive criticism for its equally significant disadvantages in the education process. One of the most significant disadvantages that technology has on learners is distraction, whereby students often get tempted to drift away from important learning activities to social media or video games during lessons when using mobile phones or computers. However, despite such disadvantages, technology still remains a powerful tool for transforming education, especially among the marginalized communities and people living with disabilities. Hence, with proper management and monitoring of the technologies utilized in the classroom, countries can realize the numerous benefits of technology in the learning process, including increased access to education, learning resources, as well as improved teacher performance and content delivery.
The Role of Technology in Education
One of the key demerits of incorporating technology in the learning process is distraction. The use of such gadgets as computers and mobile phones allows learners to access games and social media sites, which may shift their attention from the planned learning activities. Such distractions negatively affect the learners’ potential to succeed as well as their overall progress ( Cheung & Slavin, 2013) . However, proper monitoring of the use of such gadgets in the school environment is crucial to ensuring that learners complete their assignments as expected and focus on the planned tasks. In this view, learners can reap the full benefits of using technology in the learning process.
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Technology has brought about many positive impacts to education; first, it has expanded the opportunities for collaboration and communication. In the traditional context, collaboration was limited to learners within the same building or classroom; however, with technology, classroom walls no longer act as barriers to collaboration and communication ( Collins & Halverson, 2018) . Technology enables learners to learn about the events happening in other regions by viewing blogs, videos, or through video conferencing. Moreover, learners can share their learning experiences with others in different regions using the same technologies. Further, such technology-based tools as Google docs and wikis enable learners to collaborate on group assignments.
Secondly, technology has also increased the sources of information that support learning. Traditionally, the teacher acted as the primary source of information, indicating that learners passively acquired the information solely from the teachers. However, with technology, learners take a more active role in their learning since they can get information without necessarily involving teachers, particularly from the internet. In this context, the role of the teacher has shifted to that of a ‘guide’ to help learners access the relevant information and apply the knowledge acquired to effectively understand concepts ( Collins & Halverson, 2018) . Thirdly, technology makes it easier for teachers to create and design instructional materials that enable new ways for students to work together and learn. For instance, through technology, teachers can create videos and other instructional materials and share with the learners to enable them understand concepts better since they can always access the materials from the comfort of their homes. Unlike other sources of information that learners access, including books, technology is more interactive, therefore enabling students to learn by receiving feedback, researching, and doing, which makes them more interested and passionate about learning ( Cheung & Slavin, 2013) . For instance, students find it more interesting to learn about the earth using such interactive software as Google Earth or Google Maps than merely examining a picture.
Moreover, such materials as videos make learning easier and more interesting compared to reading notes or text books, therefore helping learners to understand concepts faster and with ease. In addition, using technology enables teachers to use real-world problems to explain or concepts. Using real issues affecting the world that learners can relate to enables them to understand concepts better since they can relate the classroom concepts to real people and problems ( Collins & Halverson, 2018) . Further, technology has helped teachers to bring real activities to the classroom through modeling and simulation that would otherwise be impossible to demonstrate in the absence of technology. For instance, technology can help in showing learners how tornadoes develop and planetary movements using particular simulation tools.
Apart from the classroom-related benefits, incorporating technology in the learning process enables students to embrace it as a crucial aspect of the modern life. Using technology in the classroom provokes critical thinking and aids in problem solving, which equips learners with the skills of using technological developments to solve real-world problems. Teaching focuses on introducing learners to new concepts, and demonstrating how they can help them to lead more satisfying lives. Hence, with teachers as facilitators in the learning process, learners focus on how they can apply technology in all aspects of their lives, particularly to simplify tasks.
In addition, technology has promoted increased access to education, therefore improving literacy levels across the world. Before the development of technologies that are presently used in learning, individuals in marginalized regions with inadequate learning resources could not access education or faced extensive challenged as they had to travel long distances to learn. However, with such technologies as video conferencing and online learning, which includes online degrees, has played a vital role in minimizing barriers to education in such regions. Online learning not only allows individuals to access education but also lowers the cost of education, therefore making learning affordable for the larger population.
Similarly, technology has enabled increased access to learning among individuals living with disabilities. People who find it challenging to access schools or who live in regions without the education facilities that address their unique learning difficulties are no longer disadvantaged since they can learn through the available online platforms. Presently, such individuals have access to online tutors, who can send them videos, notes, or audio learning material through the internet ( Cheung & Slavin, 2013) . The tutors can also hold lessons through such technologies as videoconferencing, therefore giving the individuals equal learning opportunities with other learners without disabilities.
Conclusion
Technology has become a crucial part of the society, including education, following the extensive benefits it presents to the learning process. Therefore, rather than focusing on technology as a threat to learning due to its potential to distract learners, it should be considered as an unexplored area of growth that can help in promoting better learning outcomes. As indicated above, technology has the potential to promote better understanding of concepts among learners, as well as enhancing access to education by eliminating the physical barriers that people in marginalized areas or those living with disabilities encounter.
References
Cheung, A. C., & Slavin, R. E. (2013). The effectiveness of educational technology applications for enhancing mathematics achievement in K-12 classrooms: A meta-analysis. Educational research review , 9 , 88-113.
Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2018). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital revolution and schooling in America . Teachers College Press.
