Education technology implies a behavioural science approach to teaching and learning in that it makes use of pertinent scientific and technological methods and concepts devoted in different fields of learning. In short educational technology in its wide sense as understood today, includes the development application and evaluation of systems. According to Thomas friedman’s book, the world is flat, worldwide economic trends are flattening. In education, however, opportunities for learning are actually expanding or opening up through a myriad of emerging distance technologies. Curt bonk’s extension of “the world is flat”, The world is open. Technology is revolutionizing education was released in 2009. Technology now plays a larger role in society than it ever has before. The learning is evolving as a result of the introduction of technology. Students now have more choices than they ever expected. People used to only study in a classroom back in the day. People now days only need a computer and access to the internet. Technology is a powerful tool that has helped to improve education in a variety of ways, from making it easier for teachers to develop instructional materials. Therefore, paper will extensively discuss the statement “convergence of technologies has revolutionized education” Technology has impacted almost every aspect of life today, and education is no exception. Or is it? In some ways, education seems much the same as it has been for many years. A 14th century illustration by Laurentius de voltolina depicts a university lecture in medieval Italy. The scene is easily recognizable because of it parallels to the modern day. The teacher lectures from a podium at the front of the room while the students sit in rows and listen. Some of the students have books open in front of them and appear to be following along. A few look bored some are talking to their neighbors. One appears to be sleeping. Classrooms today do not look much different, though you might find modern students looking at their laptops, tablets or smart phones instead of books (though probably open to Facebook). A cynic would say that technology has done nothing to change education. However, in many wats’ technology has profoundly changed education. For one, technology has greatly expanded access to education. In medieval times, books were rare only an elite few had access to educational opportunities. Today, massive amounts of information (books, audio, images, videos) are available at one’s finger tips through the internet, and opportunities for formal learning are available online worldwide and access to learning opportunities today is unprecedented in scope thanks to technology. Opportunities for communication and collaboration have also been expanded by technology. Traditionally, classrooms have been relatively isolated and collaboration has been limited to other students in the same classroom or building. Today, technology enables forms of communication and, collaboration undreamt of in the past. Students in a classroom in the rural part of Zambia for example can learn about the Arctic by following the expedition of a team of scientists in the region, read scientist blog posting, view photos, e-mail question to the scientists and even talk live with the scientists via a video conference. Students can share what they are learning with students in other classrooms in other towns who are tracking the same expedition. Students can collaborate on group projects using technology-based tools such as wikis and google docs. The walls of the classroom are no longer a barrier as technologies enables new ways of learning, communicating and working collaboratively. Technology has also begun to change the roles of teachers and learners. In the traditional classroom, such as when we see depicted in the de voltolinas illustration, the teacher is the primary source of information and the learners passively receive it. This model of the teacher as the “sage on the stage” has been in education for a long time and it is still very much in evidence today. However, because of the access to information and educational opportunity that technology has enabled in many classrooms today we see the teacher’s role shifting to the “guide on the side” as students take more responsibility for their own learning using technology to gather relevant information. Schools and university across the company are beginning to redesign learning spaces to enable this new model of education, foster more interaction and small groups work and use technology s an enable. Indeed, technology is helping students to learn in ways we could never imagine before. with new technology today’s classroom have tools that can make learning happen that was impossible in recent years, now students can create impressive products as class projects that would have required lots of equipment or money in the past. The smartphones that many students carry in their pockets are much more powerful than the technology used to send a man to the moon. They can use those smartphones or devices with access to the internet now to meet virtually anyone on the planet. This is the exciting times as some schools and students are making the most of them with technology in the following ways: Collaboration: students are working together in digital spaces. They can connect whether they are in different classrooms or different countries. Plus, with shared work online the days of “my partner is absent and he has my notes” are over. For example, a student can use Google document create shared research notes or co-create essay. Repetition: Practice makes permanent. Online practice sites like digital flash cards and review games can make that repetition more interesting, plus most of those options can be carried with students in smartphones in their pockets. Video: Quality video projects used to require expensive cameras and production equipment. Now, a tablet, computer webcam or smartphone can create high-definition video that demonstrates students understanding of content. Audio: students can create their own radio shows, telling creative stories or interviewing friends and others. Those recordings can be shared widely, just like radio shows have been for years, but for free. Social media: Communication tools like twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and give classes access to virtually anyone with an internet connection. Video chat: The access from social media becomes even greater when audio and video are involved. Students can share with others around the globe while seeing facial expressions and verbal intonations of others. Websites: These days, students work doesn’t have to be completed for an audience of one-the teacher. It can be posted on a free class website or a students E-portfolio website for other interested people around the global to see. In this regard, convergence of technologies has timely revolutionized education. How has this become possible? Technology is a powerful tool that support and transform education in many ways, from making it easier for teachers to create instructional materials to enabling new ways for people to learn and work together. With the world-wide reach of the internet and the ubiquity of smart devices that can connect to it, a new age anytime anywhere education is dawning. It will be up to instructional designers and education technologies to make the most of the opportunities provided by technology to change education so that effective and efficient education is available to everyone everywhere. REFERENCES How has Technology changed Education? (2017, April 25) Retrived from https:// Online. Purdue. edu /idt/ Learning design technology resources/ how has. Technology. Changed, education How Technology is shapping the future of Education (2020, February 17). Retrieved from hhttps:// www.Visualcapitalist.com/how technology is shaping the future of education, Sampah, K. Rtal (2009) introduction to educational Technology.5TH ED. Sterling publishers private limited. https;//ditch that textbook.com Oxford Dictionary of English second edition.
