Education: Tech VS Tradition

At first glance, one might think that technology creating humans is nonsense, but upon contemplation, the idea might not be as abstract as originally thought. Humans have been creating technology since the beginning of our existence, but recently technology has begun creating social constructs and new ways of living, which had previously been created by humans themselves. Our modern technological innovations have become so advanced, that technology has become the single most influential aspect of modern life, to an extent that most of the Western world could no longer return to a technology-free life. The reason therefore, is the fact that humans have become hyper-dependent on technological innovations, ultimately leading to technology becoming a vital component of what it is to be a human in the 21st century. To provide context and support for said claim, we will be looking at some technological innovations in terms of their use in the modern education system.

The global education system is seeing unprecedented rates of rapid change in teaching methods and inclusion of technology in curriculum. There are very few students who are shocked or impressed upon seeing a SMART Board or projector in a classroom in our modern day. Technology-based education is becoming a norm, simply due to the fact that students, whether they be children or young adults, interact better with a screen, rather than a book. There are arguments to made for the pros of reading, but the benefits of video learning outweigh those of a book, especially in the case of the youth. The reason therefore, is the attractiveness of visuals and the impact that videos have for memory formation. It is easier for most to connect information to visual images, rather than words on a page. There are also high rates of learning disabilities today, such as dyslexia and ADHD, which make reading difficult, resulting in video/audio-based learning a good alternative. Even without video, just audio-based learning can be extremely beneficial for assisting people with reading problems. There are already companies who provide audio aid for videos and books, these companies are also known as Voice Over Agencies. One of which, goes by the name of Matinée Multilingual, who provides audio aid and recording in over 80 different languages.

In second-language or introduction courses, video-based learning can accelerate the learning curve of students, due to the fact that visuals are a universal language, making the video more interactive and interesting, even if the students are struggling with understanding the language. In addition, studies have shown that movies and audio clips have been most efficient in teaching students foreign languages, due to the fact that these modern methods keep attention better than traditional textbooks.

Finally, the most compelling argument in favor of video/audio-based learning, is the fact that such techniques of teaching imitate face-to-face interaction, making it a much more personal learning experience, due to the fact that students get the opportunity to experience different voices, accents, pronunciations, tones of speech, facial expressions, etc., which all constitute how one should communicate with others. The knowledge taught through these modern methods are more efficiently absorbed by the youth, slowly making traditional ways of teaching obsolete.