Technology & Education System

Integration of Modern Technology with Education System

        If the curriculum of educational domain is augmented with technology, it would create a great effect over the students of educational institutions and the faculty members would be at much ease. Technology is globally helpful in all the fields and the education sector is a beneficiary as well.  It has created a virtual bridge of communication among tutors and students. The Internet plays a vital role as the faculty and pupils have direct access to a bulk of information of their interest.

Imparting knowledge through scientific means is another way of modern technology use. Computers, an offshoot of technology, are the best ways of doing it. Use of computer in any educational establishment enhances and refine knowledge of students.

Following mode of technology support the instructors for the conduct of courses in different disciplines like science, art, history, social studies, economy, literature, engineering, computer, medical, etc.

·   Education Simulation Programs These programs simulate real-life situations and students go through a virtual experiment, observe, process, and take decisions. Their wrong decisions do no harm but they learn through their mistakes. Simul8, FlexSim, Oregon Trail, Lewis and Clark Expedition, Virtual Labs, HSTPNSim, and Cell Alive (Biology) are some good examples of simulation programs.

·        Tutorial Programs Assist the teachers to a great extent in terms of the flow of information, practice, and evaluation. It enables students to work independently. Nowadays online and offline, free of cost, tutorials in all educational and non-educational fields are available.

·    Audios and Videos Programs It is the best way to engage a larger audience. Audios and videos carry instructions to perform a particular task and compare the results among the students. Mistakes observed would be eradicated. This program can be repeated as many times as required.

·     Problem Solving Software Programs inculcate a sense of evaluating problems to reach a number of logical solutions and select the best one. It focuses on the learner’s skills and approaches towards the problem-solving ability. It also strengthens the student’s ability to observe, analyze, organize, infer, predict, recall, analog, and formulate the ideas.

·      Practice Programs Prepared for real practices effectively engage students and enhance their ability to tackle problems, incorporate a sense of competition, and get immediate feedback.

Modern technology has brought a revolution in the world in a general and the educational department in particular. The integration of technology with the present curriculum through following means could bring the standard of education to the next level: -

·       Use of Microsoft Office  Computer microsoft office is a package that includes Word for writing/editing, PowerPoint for making slides/presentations, Excel for handling mathematic equations/formula, Access for database, Publisher for creating anniversary cards/books.

·  Desktop Publishing and Graphic/Paint/Draw Software Desktop publishing helps in printing written documents. Graphic, paint, and draw give the services of drawing, labeling scientific objects easily.

·        LEAP Motion It is hardware for writing, drawing, zooming, playing, and interacting with a computer screen. Students can do all stuff with a finger, fingers, or entire hand. The mouse follows the movements of physical touch.

·   Chromebooks It is a one-button-push, easy to control, Google’s Chromebook best for lower grade school classrooms.

·    Celly It is a messaging device best for shy students. Teachers can communicate with the backbencher students who don’t participate in the classroom due to psychological or other factors.

·       LessonCast  It allows teachers to make a lesson plan strategy or idea through video, PowerPoint, documents, etc. Such lesson plans are shared with other instructors for review, refinement, or improvement. The software is well connected among the faculty members which allows everyone to reach out to a pool of knowledge that globally has an impact on education in an encouraging way.

·            Learning Interactive Websites

Ø       3plearning.com  It is an interactive website which provides teachers to teach remotely during school closure. They can give assignments to students and get back the solution file within a stipulated timeframe. This website provides the teachers an opportunity to stay connected with students' progress.

Ø   ThinkQuest.org  A learning platform for faculty members and students. The projects are created with text, images, votes, debates and messages.

Ø    Parents.mindplay.com     It enhances the reading ability of the students through a series of assessments. The reading tutors emulate one-to-one tutoring instruction and support the students.

Ø   Blogger.com  A user-friendly platform where students share their thoughts through text, images, videos clips, etc. Teachers can engage all students, even shy ones. It helps in class management like assignments, handouts, Q&A board, etc. Students collaborate, discuss, and create own portfolios.

·    Interactive Science Websites  There are a number of such websites available where science remains the focus. Following are the few best websites that promote the field of science very effectively.

Ø      Try Science It has a collection of interactive experiments, field trips, and adventures. http://www.tryscience.org/home.html

Ø   IXL It provides a number of interactive projects in the field of mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, etc. Students from 2^nd to 8^th grade are the beneficiaries. https://www.ixl.com/

Ø    BrainPOP     It has curriculum-based contents which engage the teachers and students. https://www.brainpop.com/

Ø   Edheads – Activate Your Mind       Has ten running interactive science projects about stem cells, cell phone, brain & knee surgery, crash scene, hip replacement & resurfacing, machines, and weather. http://www.edheads.org/      

Ø   Curiosity Machine - Teach AI          It focuses to teach students about the power of Artificial Intelligence. https://www.curiositymachine.org/

Ø   Science Kids         Deals with science games like living things and physical processes. It also provides games over solids, liquids, gases, and virtual circuit. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities.html

Ø   The Exploratorium It gives students an opportunity to explore science, art, and human perception. https://www.exploratorium.edu/

Ø     National Geographic Kids        It gives an interaction with animals, nature, people, and places. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/      

Ø    HHMI Biointeractive It is 3-D interactive, virtual labs, and printable actions where students can use "Click & Learn" activities. It has a great volume of embedded video clips and animations. https://www.biointeractive.org/

Ø   Wonderville   It has a collection of interactive games about things created by science. http://www.wonderville.ca/    

Conclusion 
    Learning is a never-ending journey, where everyone is a learner irrespective of the age factor. Learning when amplified with modern technology, then sky is the limit. The present curricula can be strengthened with technology for better results. If the technology is fully incorporated into the educational system then desired results could be as per expectations. Educational institutions and organizations have to collaborate with the existing and upcoming technology for a better outcome.