How Edtechs Are Helping Teachers In Fostering 21st Century Skills

Anurag Gupta. Sep 05, 2022

Human education has always been at the forefront of technological advancements. With each new generation, we have seen a greater emphasis on education and a higher level of tech-savviness among young people. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, which means that our education system must continue to evolve to keep us up with the times. By embracing new technologies and teaching methods, we can ensure that our students get the best possible education and prepare them for success in the ever-changing world.

From the days of carving figures on rock walls to now, when most students always carry multiple portable digital devices with them, technology has pushed educational potential to new heights. Looking at where educational approaches and tools have come from and where they are headed in the future, the role of technology in the classroom is more apparent than ever.

Teachers used traditional teaching methods prior to the Edtech sector. Traditional teaching methods were also a hardship for teachers. They would also have to carry the paperwork for all the classes they teach, which just made their already difficult job more difficult.

Since the traditional methods were not working well, the teachers had to put in extra effort to make sure that the students understood the concepts. This often meant spending more time outside of class preparing for lessons and grading papers. The additional work was a burden on already overworked teachers. They had to stand in front of the class and lecture for hours on end. This was very tiring and often resulted in them falling asleep at their desks. The students were also bored and would often misbehave. This made it difficult for teachers to teach and they often gave up and quit their jobs.

They were required to stand in front of the class for hours, lecturing on various topics. Many times, they did not have enough time to properly prepare their lectures, which led to subpar quality. In addition, they had to constantly monitor the students to make sure they were paying attention and behaving properly. All of this was very draining, both mentally and physically.

Although traditional classroom teaching did have a touch of personalisation. But it also had drawbacks like hefty paperwork, limited reach, geographical barriers, and less personalisation. With technology, all these drawbacks can be negated. It has been quite evident that the traditional way of teaching does not develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. There are many problems with the traditional approach to teaching, such as the fact that it relies too heavily on memorisation and rote learning. Additionally, this approach is very teacher-centred, which can lead to students feeling disengaged and uninterested in the material.

With the advent of digital learning platforms, many of these drawbacks have been mitigated, if not altogether eliminated. The best part is that online and hybrid learning can be highly personalised to suit the individual needs of the learner. They can choose the pace, content and delivery method that works best for them.

Various Edtech platforms provide personalised learning experiences to students, based on their individual needs and abilities. With technology, geographical barriers have also been removed and learning can now happen anywhere, anytime. This kind of tailored approach is simply not possible with traditional teaching methods. What's more, online and hybrid platforms allow teachers to reach a far wider audience than they ever could in a brick-and-mortar classroom. And with features like live streaming and video lessons, geographical barriers are no longer an issue.

The internet has completely transformed the field of education. It has broken all geographical barriers and made learning easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. If we want our students to be successful, we need to ditch the traditional approach and move towards a more student-centred approach that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Some teachers were initially resistant to using educational technologies in their classrooms. But they have adapted quite well and are now using them regularly. The technologies have helped them improve their teaching methods and engage their students more effectively.

By enhancing information administration, educational technology can be used to decrease unneeded labour. It has the potential to relieve teachers of the myriad burdens that come with being a teacher, allowing them to focus on teaching. Some tasks that educational technology can automate are - collecting and managing student data, planning and scheduling classes, developing and administering tests and quizzes, tracking student progress and performance and communicating with students and parents.

For instance, by automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as grading and lesson planning, teachers can spend more time on the tasks that truly require their expertise and attention. Additionally, by making use of educational technology tools that facilitate collaboration and communication between teachers, students and parents, the need for teacher-student conferences and parent-teacher meetings can be greatly reduced. Ultimately, if used effectively, educational technology has the potential to make the role of a teacher simpler and easier while also enhancing the quality of education.

Edtech has definitely helped lessen the burden on teachers by providing them with tools and resources that make their lives easier. The automation which comes with Edtech allows teachers to focus on what they do best: teaching. Additionally, Edtech can help connect teachers with colleagues and experts from around the world, which can provide them with invaluable support and advice.

These technologies, from the wheel to the steam engine to the supercomputer, have expanded how people produce the goods of life. Because technology has progressively stretched out the frontier of human productivity, food, clothing, housing, energy and entertainment are all significantly more affordable and accessible than they were just a few generations ago. Technology can help teachers use their time, attention, and energy in new ways to make a greater difference for their students in a comparable pattern.