Children today are born into a world of technology. They learn
quickly and adapt to new technologies as it is an integral part of their lives.
There is still this assumption that learners can use technology effectively
simply because they are surrounded by it and because they are quite skilled at consuming
social media content. The technology which has become the norm today was not a
part of the teacher’s learning and they lived in a world with very little use
of technology. We tend to overlook the usefulness of our students being surrounded
by technology. It is something that
should be “exploited” rather than regarded as an obstacle to teaching and
learning. It is important for teachers to become competent in their use of new
technologies, which their students can be facilitators of, and technology will start
to transform learning when learners use it to become 21st Century learners.
When authorities responsible for education budget have
superficial understanding of the importance of technology in education budgets
are not allocated appropriately. Budget allocation for school technology should
be given the same priority as other resources. Education leaders and authorities need to increase their advocacy efforts.
They should take a much more serious stance about the use of technology as a
teaching and learning tool. It is a matter of understanding the role that
technology can play in education.
The focus should not be on performance and pupil results only,
and education authorities need to be able to see beyond the classroom. The
school curriculum should not and does not limit our student’s achievements to
performance and results.
School leaders, education authorities and people responsible
for the budget allocation for technology in schools/classrooms should be sensitized
in teaching with technology because it will improve their understanding of how
technology can be integrated with teaching & learning effectively.
