20240509 QFM015 Engineering Leadership Reading List April 2024.pdf
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The use of Technological Devices in
Education
2. Technology is an integral part of our society and a major contributor towards
education. If you are a student from this decade, then it is obvious that you have
encountered technology, either in the form of smartphone or laptop. The use of
technology in the classroom helps you complete your tasks on time. Also, you
can understand the tasks easily through live images and tutorials.
According to a research study, public schools in the United States provide at
least one computer for every five students. They spend more than $3 billion per
year on digital content. The Federal government is making all the efforts to give
High-speed Internet and free online teaching resources to the rural and remote
schools.
In this post, we will discuss three things:
Reasons to allow technology in the classroom
Examples of educational technologies
Pros and Cons of the use of technology in the classroom
3. Reasons to allow Technology in the Classroom
In this section, we will discuss eight reasons to allow technology in the
classroom.
1. Technology in Classroom Improves Future Orientation
Technology in classroom is an important factor in education. It has come to the
forefront of education through various e-Learning modules. It is taking the
education level and the learning system to a new level.
Geoffrey Robertson, an Information Architect at Discovery Education, predicted
key factors on the development of students’ 21st-century skills. According to him
the emphasis in education in the next few years would be on the development of
4. student’s computer skills. His research was published in Hannover Research in
2014.
The 21st-century skills refer to the teaching of digital literacy and the advanced
learning techniques used in schools and colleges. “21st-century skills” has
become a buzzword in technology and business circles.
Robertson emphasizes that students should be equipped with these
“multidimensional” skills. It will help the students to obtain the information they
need to get ahead. A survey was conducted by World Economic Forum of
25,000 young people from across the world. Out of this, only 77.84% of students
reported having taken online courses in the past. This value is expected to
increase in the future. In 2016, the e-learning market was worth $166.5 billion,
whereas the expected growth shows a value of $255 billion by 2017.
Technological advancements are touching the education in ways never imagined
before. The influence of technology in classroom is spreading to a mass number
of students now. The students have started adopting the new methods of
technology in their studies now. They are learning faster and defining their future
based on increased knowledge opportunity.
2. Digital Learning is Exciting
E-Learning or digital technology is becoming popular among the students. It
fulfills the needs of modern-day learners. The digital content learning techniques
in the classroom have enhanced students’ interaction within the classroom.
E-Learning has a massive presence in almost every field. The use of technology
in classroom is increasing day by day. Teachers today use different techniques
5. like movie-clippings, advertisements, commentaries, dramatics and more to
educate students. Language teaching is one such area where technology has
taken over and improved the ways of learning.
Even education has become easier for the students who cannot visit the class
everyday. The online students can interact with the teacher just like someone
present physically in a classroom setting. Now teachers are also making
continuous efforts to make the classroom a good place to learn and succeed.
They are aiming towards making the education attractive and sensible. Few
schools are trying their best to include more technology in classroom.
3. Technology in Classroom Improve Skills
The new technological development and the digital learning is improving the
skills of the students. These skills are helping the students to prepare for their
studies from the future perspective. It is making the students more aware and
creative. E-learning methods and digital equipment are enhancing the skills
through right course selection and better delivery.
The teachers should include more technology in classroom for better results.
In March 2014, Docebo released a survey report on E-learning market trends
and forecast from 2014-2016. According to this research, the worldwide E-
Learning market will show fast and significant growth over the next few years.
The global market for E-Learning reached $35.6 billion in 2011. The five-year
compound annual growth rate estimated at around 7.6%. The revenue for 2016
was expected to reach $51.5 billion by 2016.
6. While the aggregate growth rate is
7.6%, several world regions appear to have significantly higher growth rates.
According to recent regional studies, the highest growth rate is in Asia at 17.3%,
followed by Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America at 16.9%, 15.2%, and
14.6%, respectively.
The data above shows the spectacular growth in the e-learning. The students
gain self-confidence to study even without the physically presence of the teacher.
They learn how to operate new things on their own . They learn the “skill of
learning” and become a good student.The only challenge is that parents have to
ensure that their children is curious about learning. Though curiosity can be
increased through technology, but guidance from parents can be suggested.
4. Use of Technological Devices Increases Collaboration
The digital learning devices are playing a major role in the collaboration.
Technology in classroom is helping the students to participate in the class
activities. The average students are coming with new ideas and creativeness. It
has become easier for the teachers to approach the students in a better way.
The communication between the teacher and the students has increased.
7. The digital medium is an attractive method to retain the attention of the
students.The students are finding it flexible to complete their assignment through
digital devices in the class.
Technology in classroom and E-learning is making the students flexible. Now the
students do not have to sit and study in a closed classroom. E-learning is
making it simpler for them. Now they can easily find the model of learning that
best suits them. They can choose any e-learning method to study and complete
their education. They have the option to sit at home and study through their
laptop.
Now, the teachers are providing video tutorials also. The digital medium is
helping the students to collaborate with their teachers through video and audio
methods.
Furthermore, technology in classroom is increasing the potentials of the students.
According to a research study by Deloitte on Digital Education Survey, the
introduction of technology has changed the model of the education industry. The
increasingly digital and Tech-Centric methods are changing the learning pattern
of the students and teaching pattern of the teachers.
Technology has impacted education by introducing new ways of learning, such
as adaptive learning, flipped classroom models, and massive open online
courses (MOOCs).
Now we will see the statistics of the technology used in today’s classrooms. A
survey conducted by Docebo found that:
Preference of laptop and computer is 56% among students
Students are taking more interest in e-learning than studying through books
67% of the students prefer online education videos
8. Usage of educational applications and software also help them study in a different way.
Preferences for the tablets decrease with age and the laptop preferences grow.
5. Technology in Classroom Reduces Physical Load
The digital learning has reduced the weight of carrying heavy books. Technology
in classroom is helping the students to carry less weight than earlier. There used
to be at least three books and notebooks for each subject. This is a survey report
from Division of Research, Department of Family Practice Texas in 2001. They
did a study on the backpacks carried by the school students. It was found that if
we don’t adopt the e-learning system, then the students are likely to suffer
serious health issues in the future.
Image below shows the mean weight of the backpacks carried by Grade:
Source: DRDFP
9. The backpack weight increased with grade. Bags carried by students in 7th
grade were the heaviest among all grades. The research also found that more
than a fifth (23%) of the students carried backpacks weighing between 10 and 14
percent of their body weights. Only 3% of the students carried backpacks
weighing 20 percent or more of their body weight. As a result, it is recommended
for the schools to adopt the e-learning strategies and systems. This will decrease
the risk of suffering serious back pain injuries.
6. Improves Self-Confidence
The use of technology in classroom motivates the student. Digital learning is
making the students self-confident and independent. The students are now able
to structure their own learning program. They can identify the resources and
skills needed to achieve the objectives and decide on their own learning process.
With the help of the technology students can :
Identify their own learning needs
Formulate their own learning goals
Manage time in order to achieve goals and objectives
Classify necessary learning resources to support their learning
Implement learning strategies effectively
Self-reflect on the learning process
Evaluate the learning outcomes
The digital learning opportunities make students self-reliant. The students can
study without the teachers. The online free resources are available in abundance
for them. They can surf internet and scroll information they need. The students
can proactively participate in the group discussions and take the initiative to put
their views on it. Digital techniques are making the students informative and
active. They can go beyond their notebooks and do something creative and
innovative.
10. 7. Technology Allows Instant Access to Knowledge
Because of e-learning, the students are getting instant access to the knowledge.
They can now sit at home and do their assignments. The teachers can share the
curriculum through educational apps with the students accessing instantly
without any difficulty. There are different e-learning applications from where they
can share the tasks. The students can view and do their task with the help of this.
Some of the applications that can help the students get in touch with their
teachers are:
Edumodo
Edmodo is a full-featured social learning platform designed to connect and
collaborate within the educational environment. It is an educational app beneficial
for the teachers and students to share the information within or outside the
school. It helps in sharing the content and get access to homework, school
notices, and grades.
Evernote
Evernote is an awesome educational app for teachers. Its uses range from
planning a course to delivering a lesson plan. Evernote helps in capturing
feedback of the students after class. It allows you to take notes, capture photos,
create to-do lists, and record voice reminders. Evernote also helps you to search
and find the notes ultimately whether you are at school, at home, or on the go.
11. 8. Implementation of Technological Devices are Cost Effective
The speed with which e-Learning has advanced, the cost of learning and
development of education has reduced. With the presence of technological
devices in the classroom, the learning output has become cost effective.
Students can only use technological devices to complete their work instead of
investment on notebooks and books. The teachers can easily upload the task on
the computer with the help of educational apps.
Examples of educational technologies
Till now, we have learned the reasons to allow the technological devices in our
classroom. Now we will learn few examples of the types of technological devices
used in the classroom.
12. A. Smart Board
Teachers can use this method to help engage students by giving them visual
tools. It can keep the students attentive in the classroom. This can assist them to
be on track during classroom discussions. Students with visual disabilities can
also benefit from the enlarged class board.
B. Phonetic Ear
With the help of this device, the students can hear teachers voice clearly. The
teachers wear a microphone device around their neck (like a lanyard). It helps
the student to write their notes clearly without making any mistakes.
C. Clicker Response Systems
The teachers give small handheld devices (clicker) to the students (similar to a
TV remote). Clicker contains digits from 0-9. They respond to the questions
posed by the teacher by hitting specific option. The teachers receive instant
results. It helps the teacher understand that if the students need any further
clarification on a topic.
D. iPads
When people think of the technological device in the classroom, the iPad is what
comes to mind. Its efficient capabilities and ease of use has made it a standard
device in many schools. iPads can be used in many ways:
Practice for skills such as reading or solving mathematics quizzes
Study progress tracking software
Translate speech and learn new language
13. Alternative communication software (i.e. pictures and symbols to help clarify meanings)
E. Screen Readers and Braille Displays
Screen readers and braille displays are used by the students who are visually
impaired. This helps the blind to read and learn. Also, it becomes simpler for the
teachers to make the visually impaired student understand a chapter.
Pros and Cons of Technology in Education
No doubts that e-learning is helping the students learn and do the tasks
efficiently. Technology will help them complete their education easily. But, each
coin has two sides. Therefore, now we will discuss the pros and cons of the e-
learning-based education.
Pros of Educational Technologies
Flexibility
Online learning gives you full flexibility to accomplish your goals. Unlike
traditional learning, the e-learning is flexible for the students as well as for the
teachers. You can access and learn anything you want, anytime you want.
Lower cost
e-Learning is a better option for the students who cannot afford trainers’ time.
Other than the cost of a laptop and an online course, you generally do not have
other expenses. Schools do not have to manage bulky libraries.
Mobility
14. The students feel like they are in prison when they have to sit for long hours in
the classroom. The e-learning medium allows the students to go mobile. Now
they can learn from any location, whether a train, a plane, or a beach. e-Learning
allows you to take full advantage of your time and get things done when you
would not normally be able to.
Cons of Educational Technologies
Technical issues
The students need to have devices that are compatible with the e-Learning
software. Internet connection issues, software failure, device failure, and others
are general challenges faced by the students.
Health issues
A student can suffer from a lot of health problems due to technological devices.
They can suffer from health issues such as weak eyes, fatigue, stress, eye burn,
back pains, headaches, and others.
Distraction
Students, sometimes, use laptops and gadgets for things other than studying.
They get indulged in social media websites, video channels, online games, and
others.
In conclusion we can say that the use of technology is good for the education.
The world is moving fast with technological advancements. Therefore, it has
become imperative to ease the learning process to grow faster with the world.
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16. OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES THAT HAVE
IMPACT
We usually think of technology as only those things related to computers. However,
there are other devices that either work with computers or are stand-alone objects that
have enhanced educational delivery systems:
No older teacher will ever state that s/he misses the old duplicating machine, with
its purple ink and unpleasant odor. The copier has replaced all of that
unpleasantness and provides clear copies that teachers may use in a huge
number of ways.
Printers. These devices are becoming more sophisticated every year, but the idea
that one can phone, fax, make copies, and print out what has been typed into a
computer, was just unheard of when printers were new on the market
Interactive whiteboards. When images are projected on such a board, students
may draw, write or manipulate the images themselves – a great teaching tool.
Digital Projectors. Mounted on the ceiling and connected to a computer, these
handy little devices can project anything from a computer screen directly onto a
large whiteboard or other surface.
8 High-Tech Gadgets That Are Making
Classrooms Smarter
The future is now in these high-tech classrooms.
17.
The BenQ interactive projector in action.
BenQ
“Technology is a driving force in education, opening up many doors and preparing
students for what lies ahead, not behind,” said Kirsty Kelly, Primary Years Program
Coordinator at the Canadian International School in Singapore. “It allows for greater
differentiation, individualized learning, real world integration, and varied assessments.”
Today’s schools are changing and the incorporation of digital advances into the
classroom was inevitable and necessary. To prepare students for their future, education
must utilize the most advanced tools and techniques available.
“Technology must be incorporated into how [teachers] teach and assess students,” Kelly
added in a phone interview with Global Citizen. “There must be a shift in mindset, for
teachers, parents, and students.”
These changes are being reflected in new educational spaces.
"Students inhabit a 21st-century world for 18 hours a day," Jim Tracy, headmaster at
Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts told US News and World Report.
"And, all too often, educators put them in a 19th-century classroom for six hours of that
day, and the students feel a tremendous disconnect."
Read More: 16 Classrooms from Around the world
Education institutions from Kindergarten to postgraduate programs are incorporating new
technology at a rapid pace. Some classrooms are starting to look more like the
movie Minority Report than the classrooms most adults today remember.
Here is a tour of the technology shaping today’s classrooms.
Creative spaces
18. “Stuffing schools with high tech tools isn’t the answer to offering dynamic learning
experiences,” said Danish Kurani and Zoe Balaconis in an article for EdSurge, a website
about the intersection between technology and education. Kurani is an architect and
designer and her colleague Balaconis is the co-founder of Misadventures, a women’s
outdoor adventure magazine. The two led a pilot program testing classroom designs with
a public school in Columbine, Colorado.
The driving concept of the program was “new learning needs new environments.”
Their pilot program redesigned a classroom to utilize technology and new teaching
techniques to make education more “personalized, adaptive and real-world” focused. The
new classroom had a “Skype Mountain,” a tiered sitting area where “students can sit,
congregate, and connect with the world.”
Read More: Universal Access to Education Means More Than You Think
The classroom also included small discussion areas, individual, pupil directed, learning
zones, and large learning galleries that can be updated to fit whatever topic is being
taught.
This pilot program is one of many experimenting with new layouts for learning that will
make sure that the classrooms of the future look substantially different than the ones of
the past.
Projectors
Projectors on their surface are a simple technology that has been around for decades.
Historically used to project lecture notes or multimedia presentations, these classroom
cornerstones can do so much more.
BenQ’s “Interactive WXGA”projector displays interactive images on almost any flat
surface. The flexible projector, as displayed in the video below, can be hooked up to a
wide range of devices allowing instructors and pupils to fully utilize it.
Smartboards
A step beyond interactive projectors are the wide range of “smartboards” being utilized in
classrooms.
Some smartboards operate just like a whiteboard, allowing a person to write on them with
real or digital markers. Smartboards then surpass their simple whiteboard ancestors by
recording what is written or turning a digital marker line into a tangible visual element.
Read More: Should Every School Look Like This?
Other versions, like the Promethean board in the video below, are effectively touch-
enabled giant digital computer screens. These screens are as limitless as the imagination.
Students can manipulate images, guide an online exploration, or control a camera in the
arctic circle.
Even better, they can be mirrored through the internet, opening up engagement to
students anywhere with access to the signal.
Smart tables
The sturdier cousin to the smartboard, smart tables are re-orienting information for all
ages. These digital displays take information off the wall and put it on tables. Sector
leaders like SMART Technologies’ “SMART Table” focus their innovation on making
the display sturdier than their wall-mounted cousins and supporting more simultaneous
interactions. For example, the table in the video below can handle 40 unique touch points
at the same time. It is a perfect fit for a room full of eager young students.
19. The layout of a smart tables makes it more accessible to people of all ages and physical
abilities than smartboards.
Laptops, tablets, phones, and more
The presence of computers or tablets in the classroom is fairly common in developed
countries. Students have used computers to take notes in class for more than a decade.
Tablets and phones are even more portable and have the same capability.
Read More: Lawrence O'Donnell Supplies Desks, Transforms Learning in Malawi
In the last few years, these devices have gained functionality and prominence in the
classroom. These devices are particularly important where teachers have experimented
with “flipped classrooms,” an education system where students watch videos of lectures
outside of class and do assignments in class.
Image: Knewton.com
Individual digital devices can also be networked together or connected to a classroom’s
tech infrastructure to expand opportunities for students to work together. The future of
this capability is a hot topic at many teacher’s conferences around the world.
Digital textbooks
Digital textbooks are becoming more crucial as some schools are cutting back on
expensive physical textbooks. Some schools are going beyond adopting a new format for
education texts.
In 2009, the state of California began replacing some high-school textbookswith “open-
source” digital books. And digital textbook provider Boundless estimates students at half
of the United States’ universities have used their free digital textbooks.
Initially, digital textbooks were simply the old textbooks in digital form. Nowadays, the
digital versions are starting to look more like online databases or programs than their
paper predecessors.
Cameras
20. Cameras are present in almost every classroom in the United States. Often they come
installed in laptops, tablets or desktops used by students. Programs like
Microsoft’s Skype in the Classroom offer a wide range of educational experiences that
can be accessed through these cameras.
In more advanced classrooms, higher-quality cameras are integrated with projectors or
smartboards, opening up the experience to the entire class.
When cameras aren’t breaking down classroom walls, they are providing a basis for self-
assessment. Students in some classes use cameras to record themselves doing an activity
then watch the video to identify areas for improvement. Further, cameras – both still and
video – are becoming common tools to create academic output in place of the more
standard written essay.
Audio enhancements
For 40 years, schools in the US have regularly experimented with some form of audio
enhancements. Historically found in auditoriums or large lecture halls, audio
enhancement equipment is finding its way into classrooms of all sizes.
Audio enhancements refer to a suite of tools from high-quality speakers to wireless
microphones. A full system includes easy to wear microphones transmitting an
instructor’s voice to speakers in every corner of a classroom. The speakers can also be
connected to a multimedia presentation or a person joining the class through a camera in
a remote location. With quality speakers distributed around a classroom, each student is
able to hear and absorb the information being shared.
Read More: Life as a Classroom in Syria
Educational benefits of audio-enhanced environments include higher retention from
pupils, more engagement and interaction, and higher teacher energy because they are less
tired from having to strain their voice day in and day out.
These systems are getting more advanced each day. Directional sound speakers enable
students in different areas of a classroom to engage in activities without disturbing others.
Students who have a hearing problem can tune their area speakers to provide higher
amplification levels. And lectures or discussions can easily be recorded (as videos or
podcasts) for later review or distribution.
Control centers
Classrooms often already have multiple streams of information available. The options are
expected to continue to grow. To fully utilize the growing options, instructors need to be
able to switch seamlessly from displaying a Skype chat to a documentary to a digital
lecture. To enable this, systems like the ELMO CRC-1 “switcher” in the picture below
are quickly becoming centerpieces in classrooms.
Image: ELMO USA
21. “One of the things that kills instructional flow is the downtime [for setup]. By integrating
the Elmo into the projector and the audio enhancement it’s a smooth lesson all the way
through,” said the Director of Learning Through Technology for the Charlotte County
Public Schools in Florida in a video about his school system’s new high tech classrooms.
Easy to use, reliable, control centers for instructors help keep high tech classrooms
operating smoothly.
Networked learning
Digital education platforms are a new form of teacher’s assistant in networked learning
environments. The capabilities of these program range from enabling students to submit
work electronically, to automatic assessments of some assignments, to early warning
advisories to teachers if a specific student seems to be struggling.
Networked classrooms can also allow a teacher to look in on a student’s work while it is
in progress by displaying the the student’s screen on their own device.
This advancement may not be as physically obvious as an ELMO control center or a
smart table but it is quickly becoming the digital backbone of future instruction.
The future and appropriate use of networked learning environments is under debate by
many leading experts in the field.
Classrooms in the future will need new investments of both creativity and finance. The
technology is entering the industry but, of course, finance is, and will be, a barrier to
building these new classrooms.
“I work in a private school with good funding – but technology is definitely an ongoing
cost,” said Kelly. “At the same time, technology can replace some costs of traditional
resources. It can also save administration cost and time.”
Not every school will be able to install smartboards or Skype Mountains in the next few
years. Instead, they can look at updating lesson structures to fully utilize any available
technology, resource sharing among students, and re-thinking their educational spaces
within their budgets.
Students across the planet need the best, most up to date, education to prepare themselves
for the future. And the world needs the best prepared students to have a better future.
E-books
Despite students' apparent preference for paper textbooks, proponents like Daytona
Collegeand California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are ready to switch to digital. And
electronic textbook vendors like CourseSmart are launching to help them.
E-books hold an unimaginable potential for innovating education, though as some schools
have already discovered, not all of that potential has been realized yet.
"A digital textbook that is merely a PDF on a tablet that students can carry around might be
missing out on huge possibilities like models and simulations or visualizations," Dorsey
says. "It takes time and it really takes some real thought to develop those things, and so it
would be easy for us as a society to miss out on those kinds of opportunities by saying,
'Hey look, we’re not carrying around five textbooks anymore. It’s all on your iPad, isn’t that
great?'”
22. Positive Impacts Of Technology On Society
Technology Has Mechanized Agriculture
Technology has mechanized agriculture: Modern agricultural technology allows a small
number of people to grow vast quantities of food in a short period of time with less input
which results into high yields and RIO ”return on investment”. Through government
subsidies, small and medium-sized farmers have managed to acquire plowing, sowing,
watering and harvesting machines. The use of technology in agriculture has also
resulted in the manufacturing of genetic crops which can grow fast and they can be
resistant to many pests and diseases. Also, farmers have access to artificial fertilizers
which add value to the soil and boost the growth of their crops and enable them to
produce high-quality yields. Farmers in dry areas have been in a position to grow healthy
crops, they use advanced water pumps and sprinklers which derive water from rivers to
the farms, the all process can be automated to save time. A good example is Egypt, this is
a desert country which receives little rain, but small and big farmers have used automated
sprinklers to irrigate their farms. In Egypt, they grow a lot of rice, yet this crop needs
sufficient water to grow well. The water is pumped from River Nile to the rice fields on a
daily basis.
Technology Has Improved Transportation
Technology has improved transportation: Transportation is one of the basic areas of
technological activity. Both society and businesses have benefited from the new
transpiration methods. Transportation provides mobility for people and goods.
Transportation, like all other technologies, can be viewed as a system. It is a series of
parts that are interrelated. These parts all work together to meet a certain goal.
Transportation uses vehicles, trains, airplanes, motorbikes, people, roads, energy,
information, materials, finance and time. All these parts I have mentioned work together
to move and relocate people and goods. Technology has helped in advancing all the four
types of transportation and these include ; (1) road transport used by automobiles ,(2) air
transport which is used by airplanes , (3)water transportation which is used by ships and
speed boats and (4) space transportation used to go to the moon. The most used of all
23. these is Road transportation, this one facilitates the movement of goods and people.
Technologies like automobiles, buses, and trucks have improved the way humans move
and how they transport their goods from place to another. Also, developing countries are
getting funds from wealthy countries to improve their road transport which has resulted
in the development of rural remote areas.
Technology Has Improved Communication
Technology has improved communication: Communication is used for a number of
purposes. Both society and organizations depend on communication to transfer
information. People use technology to communicate with each other. Electronic media
like radios, televisions, internet, social media have improved the way we exchange ideas
which can develop our societies. In many countries, radios and televisions are used to
voice the concerns of the society, they organize live forums where the community can
contribute through mobile phones or text service systems like tweeter. During political
elections, leaders use radio, television and internet media to reach the people they want to
serve. A good example is the recent presidential election in the USA, ”President Barak
Obama ” has embraced the communication technology to reach and voice out his
concerns towards the development of America. Communication technologies like
Televisions, radios, and internet can be used to persuade, entertain and inform the
society. Small businesses have also used the internet and mobile communication
technology to grow and improve their customer service. Learn more about
Communication Technology here >>>
Technology Has Improved Education And Learning Process
Technology has improved education and learning process: Education is the backbone of
every economy. People need well and organized educational infrastructures so that they
can learn how to interpret information. Many schools have started integrating educational
technologies in their schools with a great aim of improving the way students learn.
Technologies like smart whiteboards, computers, mobile phones, iPads, projectors, and
internet are being used in classrooms to boost students moral to learn. Visual
education is becoming more popular and it has proved to be the best method of learning
24. in many subjects like mathematics, physics, biology, geography, economics and much
more. The business community has invested money in various educational technologies
which can be used by both teachers and their students. For example, on iTunes, you will
find many educational applications which can allow students and teachers exchange
academic information at any time, this has made learning mobile. Also, programs like
Long distance learning have opened boundaries too so many scholars around the world.
Negative Impacts Of Technology On Society
Resource Depletion
The more demand for new technologies and advancement of current technologies, the
more pressure we put on earth’s natural resources. Look at the total number of mobile
phones and computers being manufactured today, our population is increasing every day
and all these billion consumers demand either a mobile phone or a computer in their
homes or offices. This is good news for the manufactures, like Apple or Samsung, the
demand for their gadgets is high, but to sustain this demand, they have to exploit Mother
Nature for resources like aluminum, once these resources are extracted from the earth
plates, they will never return back because it took them a billion years to mature. That
means that at one time, we shall be left with no natural resource which can be a problem
to the future generation and economy. Likewise, the intensive farming practices will
deplete the soil. This makes heavy applications of commercial fertilizers necessary to
yield healthy harvests, but also these fertilizers have chemicals which are dangerous to
the soil and human lives.
Increased Population
Technology has helped us live longer by improving health facilities and aiding in the
research for solutions for most health problems which affect humans. This is good news
for developed countries but is bad news for developing countries which have not been in
a position to access these health care benefits brought by technology. In developed
countries population growth is controlled by advanced birth control methods, this has
25. helped them balance their population in relation to natural resources and other
opportunities which come with a planned population. This is different in developing
countries, the rate at which people produce is very high, the mortality rate is high, food is
scarce and health care is poor.
Increased Pollution
Pollution affects the land we grow crops on, the water we drink and the air we breathe.
The increased demand for new technologies and advancement of technologies has
resulted in many manufacturing and processing factories. As they work so hard to create
the best technologies for both society and business, they release harmful chemicals and
gasses which have polluted our environment and this has resulted in climate changes
(global warming). So the more technology we enjoy, the more we harm our environment.
Experts have tried to implement ways of reducing this impact by encouraging factories to
go green, to a small extent, this has been achieved through the development of green
technologies like; green cars, green computers, but a great effort is still needed to reduce
the pollution of the air and the earth.
Positive Effects Of Technology On Our Lives
There are so many advantages with improved technology in our daily life. With the help of mobile
technology we are able to talk to our friends and relatives who are living far from us. With the help of
internet, we are able to learn new things and online courses etc. With the help of aviation technology
we are able to reach distant places within hours which took years of time to reach in olden days. We
are using the all natural resources available for making our life better. With the help of social
networking we are able to find our childhood friends, relatives etc. and important events in their life.
With the help of information technology we are able to share information to any part of the world with
in milliseconds. With progressive technology in the agriculture field, we are able to meet food
requirements of people all over the world.
Negative Effects Of Technology On Our Lives
On the other hand, there are instances which show the problems with improved and advanced
technology or the solution for one problem with the help of technology is giving rise to another
problem. Instead of taking care personally we are sending sms or giving a call on important
occasions which were attended personally in olden days. With the use of same internet children are
getting addicted to online games and their physical activities and exercises are becoming
considerably less. The same social networks are creating rivalry between best friends and couples
are getting divorced. The same aviation technology is giving health problems for their workers and
creating serious environmental threats. With the heavy usage of fertilizers soil is losing its natural
fertility and several varieties of plants became extinct.
26. Consider the case study of automobiles regarding technology. Automobile technology was first
developed to make the journey of humans more convenient. Now we are facing serious environment
pollution issues due to vehicles which are releasing unwanted green house gases into the
environment. Now we are trying for more environment friendly automobile technology which will
have less impact on environment when compared with the present technology.
Advantages of technology
The human uses the technology to travel , to communicate , to learn, to do business and
to live in comfort , the technology has changed the world , it is very useful to us , it play
an important role in our life but it has many bad effects .
The technology helped us to strengthen the relationships by keeping in contact with old
friends , the colleagues , and the co-workers , The e-mails cause speed delivery of
messages , they reduce of the paper costs.
The technology enables the communication among people , it has helped you to
communicate with people all over the world through email , instant messaging ,Skype ,
social media , etc .
Bad effects of technology
When the children use much technology , they have not enough time to use their
imagination or to read and think deeply about the material , they find the information
but they may not remember it , they might have difficulty to develop the social skills and
the emotional reactions .
The technology can lead to the social isolation which is characterized by a lack of contact
with other people in normal daily living such as the workplace , with friends and in
social activities .
The technology causes a lack of privacy , where anyone can with a few flicks on the
keyboard find anyone’s address and contact information , So , they can use of phishing ,
viruses and hacking that helps to find any information they wish to obtain , they can
obtain the location on Google Map and they can know the life story on Facebook .
The technology can cause the tendonitis in the thumb which is a form of repetitive strain
injury caused by the frequent use of thumbs to press buttons on mobile devices or
playing too many video games .
When the electronic wastes add high level of toxicity in our air and land because they are
not disposed properly , they cause deadly chemicals to the ground , and the electronics
are emitting toxic fumes into the air.
The technology affects on our body , it causes the neck and head pain when you look
down the devices , It causes blurred vision and migraines , and eyestrain can also causes
the headaches , it causes an extra layer of stress which was not found before the overuse
of technology .
27. The technology causes a higher consumption of energy , when you don’t turn your
devices off , when you keep the computers on , the mobile devices charging , the
televisions plugged in , and all the high tech toys , So , it causes an increase in green
house emissions .
The technology causes lack of empathy .The constant stream of violent scenes on the
video games , TV, the movies and YouTube causes people to become desensitized to
destruction of any kind .
When you strain your eyes looking at the computer and the device screens , it can cause
people to need glasses much earlier in the life , And using the headphones and the ear
buds can cause people to lose their hearing over time .
Positive Effects Of Technology :
Mobile technology: We are able to talk to our friends and relatives who are
living far from us.
Internet: We are able to learn new things and online courses.
Cab services: We are able to travel from source to destination with one tap
and within limited time.
Social networking : We are able to find our childhood friends, relatives and
important events in their life.
Information technology: We are able to share information to any part of
the world with in milliseconds.
Negative Effects Of Technology:
Mobile technology: Instead of taking care personally we are sending sms or
giving a call that too on important occasions.
Internet : With the use of same internet children are getting addicted to
online games nd their physical activities, exercises are becoming less.
Cab services: The same cab services are giving health problems for their
workers and creating environmental threats.
Social networking : The same social networking is creating problems
between best friends and making couples divorced.
Information technology: Regular and continuous viewing of computers
badly affects eyes, brain and other parts of body.
1: Effective Transportation
Cars have become so ubiquitous in the world that many individuals can’t even imagine life without
them. They aren’t the only transportation to have changed the human environment, however.
Anything with wheels or wings would’ve seemed like science fiction to early civilizations, and the
prospect of simply climbing into something with an engine and being able to travel anywhere in
the world? That would’ve been absolutely unthinkable.
2: Fast, Far-Flung Communication
It should come as no surprise that technology has vastly improved both the method and speed of
communication all around the world. In the days of quills and scrolls, you sent off a letter and
hoped for the best; in 2014, you can text, tweet, tumble, call, email, fax and “poke” if you have
information that needs attention. What’s more, handheld tech ensures that you can do it all
without even leaving the couch! This kind of convenience and open-access communication has
allowed everyone in the world can connect, correspond and collaborate on a global scale.
3: Better Goods and Services
28. It’s an understood psychological truth that people behave better when they know they’re being
watched. In an age where every customer has a mobile phone camera, businesses are under this
scrutiny 24/7, and they’re forced to stay on their toes to keep their doors open and their lights
running. If customers are treated rudely, they can log onto sites like Yelp and leave negative
reviews. down detector . If they find dirty, objectionable conditions, they can take video and
launch a viral exposé within a matter of minutes. Businesses that want to succeed in the 21st
century must keep a constant eye on consumer satisfaction, and in turn, this means better
products, improved services and enriched business-to-customer relations.
4: Streamlined Systems
Think about the last time you had to wait more than ten minutes for a cup of coffee. How
frustrated did the experience leave you? Now imagine what it must have been like to live in the
1900s when all coffee beans had to be harvested and roasted by hand. Machines have made all
the difference in how we perceive time and efficiency, especially in high-tech industries where
streaming data is the norm and the Internet is the foundation of business. The automation of
processing allows everyone to sit back and let machines do all the work. It’s a wonder to behold,
though some people say it’s still worth teaching yourself how to make your own coffee.
5: Meaningful Exchanges
The world opened up with the rise of IT. Not only can people simply log onto their mobile phones
to speak with friends from New York to New Zealand, but the quality of their dialogue has
improved as well. The more you interact with someone, the more you understand them, and the
more cultural barriers cease to exist. Positive, meaningful communication is shared. The U.S.
government has already sent shuttles into space with greetings to other life forms who may be
out there. Who knows? One day machines may teach humanity to speak to aliens.
6: Longer Lives
The average life expectantly has climbed by 50 years since the 1700s. Advancements in medical
tech are mostly to thank for this, though you can also point to everything from better schools to
improved agricultural systems. People are smarter now, capable of dreaming, building and
creating complex machines, and their gadgets and gizmos have played a pivotal role in how they
interact with the world around them. Men in 1790 were grateful to live until their forties. Men who
only live to their forties today are considered tragic.
7: Improved Media
Satellite systems revolutionized the way people share information. For the first time, citizens
could see and hear global events for themselves; all you have to do is look at the Kennedy and
Nixon debate to see how that changed the future. The consequences go beyond politics,
however, and also affect science, business, finance, schools, computers and the environment. No
industry has been untouched or unshaped by the media. They may cope with its presence in
different ways, but it has still become a part of how they operate.
These are just seven positive benefits that technology has had on modern society. There are
many more, but it’s a long, exhaustive and ever-growing list, and by the time you catalouged
them all, someone probably would’ve invented a new gadget that rendered everything on the list
moot. Such is the power of innovation in the 21st century.
Here are 25 negative effects technology can have:
1. Isolation
Social isolation is characterized by a lack of contact with other people in normal daily living,
such as, the workplace, with friends and in social activities. We isolate ourselves by walking
around in our own little world, listening to our iPods or staring at the screen of the latest
mobile device even when we are around other people. Studies have shown that people who
are socially isolated will live shorter lives.
2. Lack of Social Skills
The use of online social media outlets causes us to meet face-to-face with much less
frequency resulting in a lack of much needed social skills. We lose the ability to read body
language and social cues in other people.
3. Obesity
29. The more time people are spending engrossed in video games, talking to friends online and
watching funny cat videos on YouTube, they are spending less time being active or
exercising. Also the likelihood of mindlessly eating unhealthy food increases as people are
hypnotized by the latest episode of Honey Boo Boo.
4. Depression
Technology creates the perfect recipe for depression with the lack of human contact,
overeating and lack of exercise. There is a reason the use of antidepressants are on the rise
and the blame can’t be completely dumped on the pharmaceutical companies. They aren’t
carting people into the doctor’s office and force feeding them the pills. This isn’t to say that
depression isn’t a real problem, but some people could cure their depression by living a
healthier lifestyle.
5. Poor Sleep Habits
Some of the negative effects of technology can be linked to the effect it has on sleep habits.
We get sucked into online activities that keep us up too late and the constant stream of
information can make it difficult to turn off our brains. Also, the ambient glow from screens
can affect the release of melatonin, the sleep chemical. Keeping technology out of the
bedroom would be a very healthy habit to acquire.
6. Pollution
With the rapid-changing world of electronics and technology, the turnover rate for upgrades
is staggering. This constant stream of out with the old, in with the new is adding to the levels
of toxicity in our air and land. E-waste is not always disposed of properly, causing deadly
chemicals to leach into the ground. Plants that manufacture the electronics are emitting toxic
fumes into the air. Plus there is little to no regulations on the disposal of personal E-waste.
7. Increased Bullying
The use of technology has caused an increase in bullying and escalated the degree of
severity. Kids are no longer able to escape their tormentors once they reach the safety of
their own homes. Bullies infiltrate the security of their victims’ homes through online avenues.
It is also easier to get more kids involved in bullying because people are more likely to say
things online that they wouldn’t say in person. The increase in cyber-bullying has also led to
an increase in teen suicides.
8. Lack of Privacy
The internet has stripped the world of privacy. Long gone are the days of having an unlisted
telephone number and staying offline to keep your information safe from prying eyes. With a
few flicks on a keyboard the average person can find anyone’s address and contact
information. For those with more sinister intentions, the use of phishing, viruses and hacking
helps to find any information they wish to obtain. Plus, people have no sense of privacy
online. They don’t think twice about tweeting every move they make, freely giving out their
location on Google Map and putting their entire life story on Facebook.
9. Higher Level of Deceit
On the flip side of having no privacy, people use the internet to deceive others. Most people
don’t dig too deeply when doing a search on someone to check them out. By creating a few
false profiles, people are able to pretend to be whomever they want. People are being
“catfished” on dating sites. Hell, you could be talking to someone on the FBI’s top ten most
wanted list and not realize it until you see them getting arrested on the news.
10. Warped Sense of Reality
Using the internet as an escape from real life is very easy to do. In real life you only speak to
a few people each day, there’s no Photoshop or avatar for the reflection in your mirror, bills
must be paid and saying smartass things is frowned upon. However, online you are a
freaking rock star! You have enough “friends” to form a small country, you look great in your
pics or you have a kickass avatar, plus you get rewards or points for saying clever things
(more if the clever thing is also mean-spirited). Unfortunately we must live in the real world
whether we like it or not.
11. Stress
30. Constantly being “plugged in” and “connected” causes an extra layer of stress that wasn’t
present before the overuse of technology.
12. Blackberry/iPhone Thumb
Tendonitis in the thumb, a.k.a. Blackberry/iPhone Thumb, is a form of repetitive strain injury
caused by the frequent use of thumbs to press buttons on mobile devices. The same injury
can also be obtained from playing too many video games.
13. Lack of Social Boundaries
Much in the same way that people over share on social media sites, there is an increasing
tendency to cross social boundaries. Cyber stalking someone or sending unsolicited nude
photos are examples of grossly crossing social boundaries.
14. Lack of Sexual Boundaries
Exposure to sexual content is more likely to happen at a much younger age. Before the
internet the only chance a child had of being exposed to pornography was if their dad didn’t
hide his Playboy magazine well enough. Now, well, let’s just say you pray your filters are
doing their job when your kid searches for “Puss and Donkey” from Shrek.
Sexting is also a concern with technology being used at such a young age. There is no way
in hell a girl would have taken a nude photo of herself and handed it to a guy before the
popularity of texting. Yet, using your phone to snap a quick boob shot and texting it to your
boyfriend seems to be no big deal. If you wouldn’t print the picture out and hand it to the guy,
then you shouldn’t text it. And guys — girls do not want pictures of your penis. So stop
sending them.
15. Lack of Social Bonds
Creating a lasting bond with other people requires face-to-face interaction. The more we
isolate ourselves with technology the fewer bonds we will form. People are expected to do
more work at home which takes away time they would be spending with their families. Also,
younger people prefer communicating online versus face-to-face. When people are in the
same room and communicating via text or instant messaging instead of speaking to each
other, there’s a problem.
16. Constant Distraction
When we are focused on a device instead of what’s going on around us we miss a great
deal. Think of the number of times you have been texting or talking to a friend and missed
the opportunity to flirt with the hot guy standing beside you. There is also a rise in the
number of injuries incurred by people texting while walking.
17. Neck and Head Pain
Constantly looking down at devices can cause neck pain and over time will cause the neck to
lose its natural curve. Eyestrain can also cause headaches, blurred vision and migraines.
18. Shortened Attention Span
The use of social media has shortened our attention span from 12 minutes to 5 minutes.
Constant news feeds, getting information in 140 characters and videos that are 10 minutes
or less has literally rewired our brains. People who are online an average of 5 hours a day
have trouble remembering people’s names, forget pots on the stove and even their own
birthday.
19. Addiction
People are not only dependent on technology they are also addicted to it. Studies have
shown that when cell phones are taken away subjects heard or felt fathom vibrations,
continuously reached for phones that weren’t there and became fidgety and restless. These
are some of the same withdrawal symptoms you would expect from doing drugs.
20. Lack of Empathy
The constant stream of violent scenes on video games, TV, movies and YouTube causes
people to become desensitized to destruction of any kind. The normalizing of bad things
happening and the culture of narcissism created by social media creates a society of people
who lack empathy. When people stop caring, the world goes to hell in a hand basket.
21. More Violence
31. After people lose empathy and are accustomed to violence, it becomes the social norm.
Teenage girls are videoing themselves violently beating another girl; the number of school
shootings are rising and videos of people attacking homeless people are a few examples of
violent behavior caused by media.
22. Higher Energy Consumption
Although individual devices are becoming more energy efficient, the increased overall use is
causing a higher consumption of energy. People don’t turn their devices off; they keep
computers on or plugged in, mobile devices charging and televisions plugged in. Also
manufacturing all of these high tech toys causes an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
23. Developmental Issues in Children
Children are using more technology now than they have ever used in the past. All of the
negative effects that social media and television is having on adults are far greater when it
comes to the developing minds of children. There is no way to know what long term effect
technology will have on our children because this is the first generation to have unlimited
access.
24. Neurosis
Technology causes people to suffer from mental and emotional disturbances, such as
anxiety, phobias and delusions, which are all symptoms of neurosis. Being convinced you’re
very ill after looking up strange diseases on WebMD or thinking you are famous because you
have had a viral video are a couple of ways technology neurosis manifests itself.
25. Loss of Hearing and Eyesight
Using headphones and ear buds can cause people to lose their hearing over time. Likewise,
straining your eyes looking at computer and device screens can cause people to need
glasses much earlier in life.
Be more mindful of the time you spend using technology. If you have longer conversations
with Siri than you do with real people, it’s probably time to put the phone down. Force
yourself to have an electronic-free day or weekend. When you go on vacation, don’t take
your phone or at least put it on “do not disturb”. Creating balance will help you enjoy the
benefits of technology without becoming a mindless internet zombie.
What is a Sustainable Society?
A sustainable society is one that can continue indefinitely. Its level of consumption should reflect
environmental and resource balance. It should assure its citizens equality, freedom and a healthy
standard of living.
A sustainable society focuses on the current and future well-being of its citizens and the
environment. Presently, our national policies are dedicated to producing the highest possible rate
of economic growth and consumption. Growth forever and obsession with the size of the
commercial economy have displaced our responsible national goals. We must create a strategy
for achieving a stable economy. We must develop measurement standards that clearly define
personal, social and environmental health.
For specific clean energy technologies – including wind, solar and biofuels –
biofuels, solar thermal, solar photovoltaics and wind energy). While the aver
