Today,
the exponential growth of technology usage in education, via such applications
of distance education, Internet access, simulations, and educational games, has
raised substantially the focus and importance of educational technology
research. The role of technology in teaching and learning is rapidly becoming
one of the most important and widely discussed issues in contemporary education
policy. Most experts in the field of education agreed that, when properly used,
information and communication technology hold great promise to improve teaching
and learning in addition to shaping workforce opportunities.
Rapid technological improvements, heightened interest and
increased affordability have created a bridge to for information access and
worldwide transparent communication among the people of the world (World Bank,
1998/99).
Most observers acknowledge that there are barriers associated
with technology
The
Milken Foundation identifies five criteria that characterize a scenario for
technology acquisition, informed use, productive output, and contributions to
development. Those considering acquiring new or additional technology should
consider these questions as a framework.
- First, what is
it that technology will do for students and educators that is compelling
enough to make all the effort worthwhile? (The Incentives)
- Second, what is
it that communities need in order to make informed decisions and wise use
of technology and telecommunications for improvements in learning?
(Capacity building)
- Third, what is
getting in the way of educators and students effectively using technology
and how can we fix the system to get rid of these barriers? (System
Changing)
- Fourth, what is
it that we need in order to ensure that all students have the opportunity
to learn in a technology-enriched learning environment? (Mandates)
- Fifth, how will
we know it when we see it? What does success look like in terms of student
performance? What indicators will we be using? How will the data be
collected? What evidence will be analyzed and evaluated against which
benchmarks? (Benchmarking) (Milken Foundation, 1998.)
By way of technology, it is also an opportunity to engage young
children in an ongoing exploration of the world.They have the ability
to expose children to concepts of diversity, multiculturalism, and
multilingualism at an early age. In this level, the children can choose to continue their high
school careers "cybernetically" by accessing various distance
education courses. It can be done by sending text, voice, and images are
transferred with a click on a cellular phone or a computer.
By the needs of students in this global era are
complicated and challenging, they can improve their language skills through
student-to-student conversations regardless of where they live. Communication
through speaking is a very important element. A global contact network built from
having personal conversations with other students around the world will provide
lasting benefits throughout the student’s career. They communicate with people in remote
parts of the world and read documents without physically holding them. Social
interaction helps build connections for a better world.
Absolutely, for those who is using the technology in good ways, they will
get high praise using this online access tools provide from internet.
Networking is not only for local area but also from many sources moreover
around the world. My lecturer ever said that “Please, make a friend with other
people from overseas, you’ll find out what will you get later. It is the magic
of making good-networking with them.” Even though the friends of yours are far
away over there, with technology all are settled well. By clicking some sites
in internet, you are connecting with them. What a nice life!
Besides the advantages, the technology brings us some
unhappy feeling. Such as the fear about nothing. While it is bad news from
abroad, the local citizen in other country will feel the weird atmosphere. Further,
the information can cause problem and make noisy for some countries. The worst
thing is causing air pollution, it makes our earth change the climate
apparently.
Facing the reality
that technology brings us to the darkness, we must be aware. Thee
important behavior is to strengthen the relationship of each country around the
world. It keeps the world in peace. The way can be by youth. Young generation
(I mean students) are acquiring other languages and learning about
other cultures and customs. My friends and I from English Education have
already done the performance about knowing and learning the diversity,
multiculturalism, and multilingualism from overseas. We learned CCU (one of
courses, the abbreviation for Cross-Cultural Understanding). Our ability to
educate and prepare the world’s future leaders in politics, business, and
education along with our determination to set positive examples for the value
of democracy, civility, and human rights can shape the future of the world. That’s why,
we need it in order to support the information globalize in modern technology
era.
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