Education Technology
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The change in technology has made learning easier beyond the classroom
Introduction
Technology has advanced and affected learning with better outcomes. Today, learning can take place outside the classroom space. That explains the need for unique skills by the learners, which they did not initially require.
Thesis: The advancement in technology has made education easier and resulted in learning outside the classroom space if the learners possess appropriate skills.
How technology has changed and changed the learning environment
Advancements in technology have brought on board social network tools like bloggers, Facebook, Google hangouts, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and skype to facilitate the learning experiences of participants in online environments beyond the classroom space (Kim, Kiramba, Kumi-Yeboah, & Sallar 44). Technology has promoted educational achievement in a culturally diverse learning space outside the physical classrooms. Through the tools inherent in online education, instructors engage more learners from diverse backgrounds. Learners interact without temporal and spatial limits (Kim, Kiramba, Kumi-Yeboah, and Sallar 43). The invention of digital technologies like computers, smartphones, and ipads has enabled learners from a broad spectrum to share audio content, video, and documents that nest hyperlinks in PowerPoint slides (Kim, Kiramba, Kumi-Yeboah and Sallar 44).
Technology has made education easier than before
Technological advancement in learning has promoted constructivism. In constructivism, learners construct knowledge based on their cultural backgrounds, situational experiences, and perspectives. Cultural constructivism motivates instructors to appraise cultural diversity and learners' strengths (Budhwar 55). Advancement in technology has also made learning easy by making it more collaborative. That has encouraged learners to share, participate, contribute, and discuss information (Budhwar 55).
When instructors use video presentations, learners connect easily with learning content and examples and enhance understanding. Learners also upload assignments concerning project presentations through voice threads and video chat. Blogs in learning management systems help learners in small groups respond to discussion posts, which is difficult in the face to face classrooms (Budhwar 56).
Need for new skills for learners
The changing technology in learning requires learners to acquire skills that they did not have to possess previously. The skills include converting information locked in hard copy documents into digital resources, known as digitization. Learners also need skills to use digitized content to simplify their research work, referred to as digitalization (Cedefop 10). Digital transformation skills also come in handy for students to integrate digital technology into all areas of learning and research. Learners need expertise in word processing software, the use of electronic formats like multimedia presentation, the application of dedicated software to analyze data, and spreadsheets in visualizing, filtering, and sorting data before sharing with other learners and instructors (Cedefop 11).
Conclusion
Learning has become easier because of the advancing technology, which has enabled learning beyond the classroom space. With the invention of tools like bloggers, Facebook, Google hangouts, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and skype, learners have interacted with diverse learning communities outside the classroom space (Kim, Kiramba, Kumi-Yeboah, and Sallar 43). However, the advancement has caused an ever-emerging need for students to acquire skills, which they did not need previously in converting analog information to digital content, and use digital information in simplifying, analyzing, and sharing their research work (Cedefop 11). This essay aims to expand the understanding of the effectiveness and relevance of digital technologies in promoting the learning experience and achievement in a multicultural learning environment outside the classroom (Cedefop 11).