Glenn Wood on Pros and Cons: EdTech in The Classroom

Just a few years ago, teachers across the country were trying to find ways to stop students from using technology in the classroom. Now, technology is being written into the curriculum of all types of classes. The Illinois State Board of Education even has programs and regulations on technology for classrooms. Technology made for educational purposes is known as EdTech. While these technologies are revolutionizing learning, there are some negatives to these advancements that need to be addressed. Here are the pros and cons of implementing EdTech in the classroom.

Pros

• Information Access: Access to unlimited information is one of the most significant advantages of using technology in the classroom. Before using these advancements, the information that was readily available to students and teachers alike was limited to what was written in the textbooks. Now, whenever a student has a question about the lesson that isn’t in the reading, they can look it up online in databases or a regular search engine.
• Increased Engagement: Teachers can utilize technology to create in-class polls or quizzes on the spot. They can determine when to check in on the students to see if they are understanding and retaining information by getting immediate feedback. All students would be required to answer the poll, which will increase the engagement and help gain feedback from the students who are less likely to raise their hand.

Cons

• Distraction: If there are no guidelines or filters created before the students begin using technology in the classroom, it could increase the chances of distracted students. It was found that college students who use laptops during class are less likely to retain information. This proves that strict guidelines need to be put into place when laptops or tablets can be used. Schools can also set filters and restrictions onto which sites can be accessed while using the wifi.
• Inequality: Although schools can provide technology, countless students don’t have access to the technology used outside of the classroom. Not everyone can afford a laptop or tablet on their own. The best way to ensure that no student is exiled from the classroom is not to make a lesson plan around technology. Ensure that there is a way for students to access homework or other resources without the internet. Teachers should also direct students to the library and create group assignments where resources can be shared.

EdTech use in classrooms has many more pros than the ones listed here. The benefits far outway the cons because of the countless ways technology can be introduced and used in the classroom. So long as teacher and administrators set guidelines and restrictions on technology use in classrooms before its use is implemented, there will be minimal cons to its use.

Glenn Wood is the Assistant Superintendent at the Plainfield School District in Illinois. He has spent over 25 years working in education to help students perform their best through increased student and community engagement.