Education Technology is already revolutionizing the education system, and it has the potential to improve it even further. Education Technology or EdTech refers to the practice of incorporating technology, including software and hardware, into the learning process for improved results and engagement. Increasing the role of technology in the learning environments also opens up many doors for personalized learning and classroom management. It also helps facilitate the environment of equal opportunities and provides the teachers with tools for understanding each student’s learning style and needs. But how exactly does EdTech achieve that?
How does EdTech help students to study?
Education Technology is, first and foremost, a tool that can help students discover new and improved ways of learning. It can also make studying more engaging by incorporating various content formats and making them accessible to each and every student.
Embracing collaborative learning
The best way to learn something new in a way that will stick with you is to immerse yourself in the subject entirely. This does not just happen by reading about it; students also have to incorporate that knowledge into tangible tasks and projects. Through EdTech, students have more opportunities to do collaborative work and focus on activities during class instead of passive listening. There are practically limitless opportunities to incorporate fun games, challenges, and other digital tools with tech-equipped classrooms to allow the kids to solve problems together and apply the newfound knowledge to some practical use right away.
Making education more accessible
Incorporating EdTech into the learning process also increases its accessibility. Students who can’t attend the classes in person for one reason or another will still have the chance to participate in activities and learn, even if they are not physically present in the room.
Increased personalization
One of the most extensive critiques of the modern-day education system is that it treats all its students as individuals and a homogeneous group, which is untrue. Digital tools make it possible for us to process huge amounts of data, and they help us see the bigger picture. When incorporating EdTech into the classroom, teachers are better able to see and analyze different patterns in their student’s learning processes and make personalized tweaks to their programs according to their needs. Technology even makes the process of applying said changes much easier for teachers by providing the necessary tools to get the job done quicker.
What are the risks when using EdTech?
Like with most big innovations, EdTech involves a set of new risks that we have to consider. Technology allows us to have limitless possibilities when it comes to learning. Still, there are some necessary precautions that we need to take for EdTech to fulfill its purpose without any hindrance. All the tech-related risks we take into account in our daily life also have to be considered if we want to use EdTech in the classroom.
What can go wrong with EdTech?
The biggest threat that can harm the use of EdTech is the weak security systems and unprotected internet connection. Sadly, infiltrating an internet connection is not that hard, and all it takes is one experienced hacker. When you are browsing the web without any protection, your IP address, your online identifier is exposed, and you are more vulnerable to cyberattacks. This is especially important because many people will be connected to the same network, and students may not always know what the best cybersecurity practices are.
How to prevent hackers from compromising EdTech?
Hackers can use this vulnerability to access the system and compromise it. All it takes is tricking one user into handing over some personal details, and the hacker will gain access to the entire connection. The most common way hackers manage to get into someone else’s account or their internet connection is by tricking the users into handing over the necessary information by simply asking them for it.
The best way to avoid this is to ensure that when you are using EdTech, all the connected devices are also using a VPN. A Virtual Private Network or a VPN meaning is quite simple – it reroutes your internet connection through a secure tunnel, connecting the user to the secure server located someplace else.
This way, when someone tries to see your IP address or what you are doing online, they will not be able to see your actual IP address, only the one used by the secure server. Your connection to the secure server can not be traced; hence you can rest assured that your internet connection won’t get infiltrated because of the exposed IP address. You ensure that EdTech can achieve its full potential by securing your internet connection through a VPN.
