Technology changed how we learn in classrooms

When I was in high school, technology was going through an awkward transition. It was becoming mainstream but not quite there yet. Most urban household would have the internet and a personal computer. But even at that, we didn't make a deep connection between the technology with schools. It was mostly a superficial use of it. We would surf the internet for a research assignment and use the word processor for the write up. The content on the internet at the time was very limited, especially for high school students. Back then, the web was usually filled with fan sites and startup companies trying to early adapt to the novel technology so there wasn't a lot of useful information. The potential was always there but it lacked a developed content. At the time, modern technology was as limited as the information that the internet offers. And it allowed students to type assignments. A decade later, technology has bloomed and offers so much more. The content on the internet is huge and the medium to exchange ideas has expanded beyond the word processors. This can easily lead to a progressive revolution in education due to the empowerment of student with modern technology.

In the past, teachers would tell a student how to solve a problem through a singular solution or give them information that they are comfortable with. But thanks to the expansion of knowledge on the internet, more information and solutions are available to students. Traditionally, teachers would explain and show how to answer questions in a linear fashion. Usually, there would be only one solution to answer them. However, there are some occasions when students won't understand it and struggle. It would be difficult for them to progress if they are learning the only solution demonstrated in class. Thanks to the internet, students can explore different solutions and teachers can adapt new teaching strategies learned from it.

Even the medium has evolved. Textbooks, handouts and worksheets were the only means for students to gather information and to expand their knowledge. Nowadays, teachers can use technology to pass on knowledge. A very popular method is recording a class lecture. Most university professors record (visually or audibly) their lectures and upload it on the internet. This simple idea revolutionized studying. Students can now take notes at their pacing and have control of the lecture. They can rewind to go over concepts they didn't understand the first time and they would always have a strong reference on what to expect in a course. A popular site where students would go to for a quick review is Khan Academy. It takes the idea and brings it a more mainstream setting, and expanding the audience beyond the universities students. These videos are aimed for students with any level in mathematics and senior students in high school.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of a large change in education. So much has evolved over the past decade and there is much more that will be coming in the next coming years for education. Collaboration has been a strong trend within the technology communities, like the colossal site, wikipedia. It's only a matter of time when the education system will shift from a individualistic perspective to a collective one. And this will be the biggest revolution for anyone who will learn through modern technology and modern tools.