Social impacts of technology - Good or Bad?

In order to develop a task which not only engages students in authentic learning but truly benefits student’s education and promotes a high level of intellectual quality and rigour, we must understand the wider context of technology in the classroom and the social impacts it has had on student learning.

It is now being made obvious that in such a technology based fast-paced world, traditional forms of literacy teaching are no longer adequate. Veteran teachers must re-design their style of pedagogy and new teachers must be sure to employ the technology available to them. Such changes in the way literacy is being taught will have huge impacts on us as teachers in training and we must take advantage of the rapidly developing educational world to give our students the best learning and quality teaching as possible. All teachers must recognise that new technology has an implicit place in our education system. If this is not acknowledged and teachers continue to ‘teach as they always have’, employing traditional methods, they compromise their students by placing them in a vulnerable position, unprepared and unaware of the new literacy practices essential for living and working in today’s modern society.

The social impacts of new technology’s on students learning is wide and varied, however I believe one of the most important and significant positive impacts these developments have had is on the lives of disable, sick or isolated students.

Before major advancements in technologies, ‘distance education’ was virtually impossible and home schooling was the only option. Contact with teachers was via mail or phone and these circumstances did not give isolated students the opportunities or education of their suburban counterparts. Students suffering social, mental, physical and learning disabilities have also benefited greatly from technological advancements, creating greater equity within our schooling system.

There are two conflicting sides to the social impacts of technology in the classroom and wider society and whilst some may find plausible negatives, they are greatly outweighed by the numerous advantages, opportunities, greater equity and learning benefits of these technologies.