Guest Post (while I am getting myself to the USA!)

How Does Technology Enhance Learning?

Although their meanings are similar and both words used interchangeably, there is a considerable difference between “learning” and “studying”. While the former is associated with the accumulation of knowledge, the latter is more an exam-oriented exercise. And for an education to be really worthwhile, it is important that more focus is placed on learning than on studying and rote memorization. Children should be taught how to learn at an early age rather than being told what to study; they must know how to go about accumulating knowledge and augmenting what they already know instead of just reading from textbooks and spitting out what they know during exams. And to this extent, technology is a great enhancer of true learning.

Gone are the days when our sources of knowledge were limited to books and libraries; gone are the days when we had to rely on qualified teachers to explain the basics of any subject to us; and gone are the days when knowledge was an expensive and almost inaccessible acquisition. Today, thanks to technology, it is convenient and easy to learn from the comfort of your home, office or wherever you are. All you need are the right gadgets and more importantly, the will to learn.

An Internet connection, a computer, and access to the right resources can help you earn a valuable degree that will create opportunities for you in the job world and help you climb up the professional ladder; if you own a smartphone, you can download apps that are developed to promote and support learning; if you have the money to buy an eReader, you can learn on the go without having to lug around huge textbooks – the possibilities are endless today because of technology. You don’t have to travel or visit other cultures to learn about them; you don’t have to physically be in a classroom or with a qualified instructor in order to learn from them; and you don’t have to spend as much you did before, either on technology or on learning. Online education has come a long way in being an acceptable and even preferable substitute for traditional degrees for both working professionals and new graduates.

The only drawback or hindrance to learning with technology is that unless both the spirit and the flesh and willing and ready to stay committed to the cause, the whole exercise is a waste of time and money. Just as technology offers hundreds of benefits, so too does it seek to distract and deceive you with its seamier side. You may start out with good intentions, but once you get sidetracked, it’s hard to get back on course unless your determination is strong enough. So remember, if you want to make the maximum use of technology in your quest for knowledge and learning, shore yourself up with lots of willpower, self-control and the determination to reach your goal, no matter what.

This guest post is contributed by Anna Miller, who writes on the topic of online degree. She welcomes your comments at her email id: anna.miller009@gmail.com

Technology in the classroom is fun!