Digital technologhy plays a key role in eduction - Essay Example

PROJECT: YOUR PLAN ………………………………………….. Supervisor: ………………………………………………………. Degree Project question: How does digital technology play a key role in education?Structure:In addressing the project question for my research, I will ensure that I have provided arguments for “digital technology plays a key role in education” together and those against the project question together. The use of this method will enable me know which reasons for use of digital technology in education outweighs the other.

The main arguments for the project question are: “Digital technology is framed as the main means of providing learners with enhanced access to sources of knowledge and expertise that exist outside of their immediate environment” (Selwyn 2014, p.33). Digital technology is also believed to enhance individuals’ collaboration and distance learning through use of digital tools. It is also argued that digital technology has the potential to support socio-cultural forms of not only ‘situated learning’, but also the associated perception of ‘communities of practice’ (Selwyn 2014).

Some educators also argue that digital technology has the potential to support ‘progressive’ which are non-authoritarian forms of engagement in education. The progressive educational engagement include child-centred learning as well as open forms of teaching which advocates meaning making and interpretation in addition to encouraging learner autonomy as well as dispersal of power. Educational technologies are also believed to play a significant role in not only improving, but also transforming schooling (Gouseti 2014).

It has the potential to transform “teaching and learning into an engaging and active process connected to real life” (Gouseti 2014, p. 37). Digital technology also prepares learners for future workplace. Despite digital technology being associated with many contributions to education, it is also evident that it can result to displacement of educational institutions. Digital technology cans also lead to the displacement of teachers in schools. Additionally, it is argued that the use of digital technology can result to partial reconfiguration of educational institutions (Selwyn 2011).

Students also use digital technology inappropriately in school environments. However, it is good to know the integral role of a teacher in education as well as learning whether in technology-based or not in order to ascertain if technology use in education will lead to displacement of the teacher. Additionally, I think it is good for one to know more about ‘blended learning’. Understanding this will enable one associate role of the educational institution with use of digital technology. ReferencesSelwyn, N. (2011). Education and technology: key issues and debates.

London, Continuum International Pub. Group.Selwyn, N. (2014). Distrusting educational technology: critical questions for changing times. New York ; London : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.Armstrong, J 2014, BC High Students Punished For Taking Inappropriate Photos Of Female Teachers, CBS Boston, [Online] Available at http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/12/01/bc-high-students-punished-for-taking-inappropriate-photos-of-female-teachers/ [accessed: 28 February 2015]. Blackwell, CK, Lauricella, AR, and Wartella, E 2014, Factors influencing digital technology use in early childhood education, Computers & Education, Vol. 77, pp. 82-90.

Gude, K 2012, Yelling at Students Using Facebook in Class Doesnt Help, But This Video Might, HuffPost, [Online] Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karl-gude/yelling-at-students-using_b_1461770.html [accessed: 28 February 2015]. Massey University 2014, Research@IoE: Digital technology use in Education, [Online] Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoMfK7tOW00 [accessed: 28 February 2015]. Oldknow, A 2011, Mathematics Education with Digital Technology, A&C Black. Wartella, E, and Robb, M 2007, Young children, new media, Journal of Children and Media, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 35�44