Edtech has always been a fascinating field of study. Teachers and developers alike have jointly explored new ideas and tried new hardware and software in the classroom for decades.
However, the arrival and rapid spread of the novel coronavirus in late 2019 and early 2020 quickly shoved educational technology into the spotlight. Where, once upon a time, edtech was a gradual process of seeing “what could be,” suddenly it was the way to keep educational lifelines open in a quarantined world.
This shift in the educational paradigm has thrown into light some of the pros and cons of remote education — as well as how important it is to maintain a balance of both online and offline learning.
Pandemic or not, there are many clear benefits that come with using technology in the classroom (either virtually or in-person.) For instance, technology:
The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced all of these truths. Students and teachers have maintained a different-yet-profound connection throughout the ongoing challenges in a way that has never before been possible.
Read more: 6 Digital storytelling tools for hybrid learning environments
For all of the positive vibes, though, the old adage still rings true that you can have “too much of a good thing.” The need to shift to a remote learning school model has raised various concerns for students. Two of the most alarming of these potential problems are:
While edtech is a lifeline for the entire educational community at the moment, worries like excessive screen time and a lack of physical activity make striking a balance in online and offline activity essential.
Like any quality tool, finding the greatest use of the plethora of edtech available simply requires learning how to use it correctly. Here are a few suggestions for ways to incorporate your remote learning tools into a well-balanced educational routine.
To begin, identify the most effective and productive activities to focus on with your available technology, such as:
These are all excellent ways to utilize tech in the classroom. However, they should be offset by a heavy dose of encouragement for students to unplug and learn apart from their devices. A few suggestions for this include:
When your only chance to provide education to your students is via edtech and a screen-heavy learning process, exploring options to get students up and moving isn’t just a good idea, it’s essential.
While all of these are good starting points, it’s important to note that each situation can vary dramatically from the next. As such, it’s crucial that each educator avoids a formulaic mentality. Instead, look to adopt a flexible approach to addressing balance as you consider the two-edged-sword-nature of your educational technology tools.
If you can do that, you’ll be able to use your edtech to impact your students in the best way possible while consciously avoiding the potential negative side effects that too much technology — especially in the virtual classroom — can have.