Technology in the Classroom: Benefits and the Impact on Education

Technology is at the center of our lives in most environments, and the classroom is no exception. Many K-12 schools have already integrated technological tools directly into the classroom and the curriculum, and there are calls for other schools to embrace this trend — particularly in underserved areas that suffer from a “digital divide” that can impede STEM progress.¹

From videoconferencing to AI, technology in the classroom has the potential to make aspects of education easier and more equitable in many ways. How does technology help students learn? The benefits include everything from broader inclusion to heightened student engagement and collaboration. Tech has exciting potential for all, and school principals would do well to work toward greater integration.

In This Article:

• How Has Technology Impacted Education?
• 8 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom
• What Are Some Examples of Using Technology in the Classroom?
• Using Technology in Teaching: Classroom Tech Tools
• Are There Downsides of Using Tech in the Classroom?
• Earn Your Teaching Degree at GCU

How Has Technology Impacted Education?

Technology has had a transformative effect on both K-12 schools and higher education institutions alike. For many teachers, tech has become integral to the classroom by impacting student engagement, interactions and teaching methodologies. Tech can create classrooms that are more dynamic while providing students with better opportunities for personalized learning and digitally enhanced collaboration.²

Tech can have a particularly significant impact when used in classrooms characterized by large percentages of socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Digital tools have the power to bridge those socioeconomic gaps, creating more opportunities for students who might not have access to technological tools at home. By becoming more tech-literate, students are also taking important steps toward preparing for higher education and the modern workforce.²

Indeed, the benefits of technology in the classroom are broad. However, it’s important to remember the overall goals: to help students learn, succeed and prepare for life with confidence.

With that in mind, teachers and administrators should carefully evaluate each new technology to determine whether it will truly support intended learning outcomes. Furthermore, educators must collaborate with IT staff to thoroughly vet the privacy and safety standards of any new technology before it’s brought into the classroom.

8 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom

Using technology in your teaching can give your students a boost. Consider the following benefits:

1. Increased Student Engagement

Students who use technology in the classroom may be more engaged.² Many teachers use interactive software and programs as learning technologies so that students can respond to questions and lectures digitally. Interactive e-books and other digital resources provide students with greater access to multimedia. In addition, gamified learning makes education fun and engaging as students earn badges and move through competencies.

2. Collaboration

Technology makes it easier for students to collaborate and work on solving problems in teams.² Traditionally, when students collaborated, they may have created posters or notes of their work together.

However, technology allows students to create digital collections of research and ideas. They can draw and write together in the same program, creating documents and projects that are fully collaborative.

3. Inclusion

Technology in the classroom is becoming crucial for supporting equity in learning. Tech tools allow for a more personalized learning experience,² which means all students — including those with diverse and special needs — can receive access to the education they deserve.

For example, adaptive readers highlight text or read aloud to students so they can research and use websites like their peers using technology. Tech in the classroom also provides access to students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds who might not have access to tech at home.

4. Differentiation

Technology gives students access to a variety of programs and information sources at the simple click of a button. Teachers can find leveled readers or allow students to choose research topics that fit their interests much more easily than by going to the library, where resources may be limited.

In addition, teachers can assign programs to help students remediate or expand their knowledge so that students can process or investigate topics further. This work can be done during centers or group work, freeing the teacher to attend to individual students or other small groups. Using technology in this way can help ensure that all the students get what they need.

5. Productivity

Analog tools need to be tended to, cared for and replaced. Using technology allows students to access what they need when they need it. They can keep calendars online, and teachers can push due date reminders in a learning management system (LMS).

Similarly, word processors do not need to be sharpened, and online books do not get lost. Technology allows students instant access to all the materials they need, saving time, space and mental effort.

6. Creativity

The content available online is endless. Students who are interested in learning about arts, music, videos — and virtually anything else — can find plenty of resources. Any creative endeavor that calls to a student can be supported by technology.

For example, tablets have the capabilities to capture students' sketches. Editing software lets students bring photos to life and manipulate them in creative ways. Technology can enhance creativity rather than inhibit it if students are given choice about what they create.

7. Automation

Among the benefits of technology in the classroom for teachers is automation. You can upload lessons into an LMS for students to access on their own time. Online assessments make grading easy and parents can automatically be messaged when students receive a failing grade. Teachers are always looking for ways to find more time in the day, and technology can assist by automating certain tasks.

8. Future Focus

It’s likely that tomorrow’s graduates will choose from some career options that don’t currently exist, and it’s entirely possible that technology skills will be important for those careers. Students can benefit from strong technology skills to pursue success in whichever career may interest them. Simply having an adaptive mindset that embraces the process of learning and using new technology can make a difference in a student's future.

What Are Some Examples of Using Technology in the Classroom?

If you are interested in using online technology aids in the classroom, here are a couple of popular methods to help you get started:

Virtual Textbooks

Among the many benefits of computers for students in the classroom is the potential to access virtual textbooks. Virtual textbooks connect students to a considerable volume of information in an engaging and accessible way. However, it’s important for school administrators to ensure that students have the necessary digital resources to access these virtual textbooks at home.

Online Courses

Some K-12 schools are taught entirely online, while others have embraced a hybrid online/in-person model. Both can be helpful for supporting student success.

For example, some smaller school districts might not have the resources necessary to offer more than the standard core classes plus a few enrichment courses (art, physical education, etc.). Access to online classes can open the door to greater opportunities to students in these school districts. In the past, students might have been able to take Spanish courses only, but now they can access online courses in German, French and many other languages.

Smartboards

As the name implies, smartboards are interactive digital panels that teachers and students alike can use. Smartboards can bring interactive maps and educational apps to the front of the classroom, along with a wide array of other features.

Smartboard technology can enable teachers to offer more dynamic and interactive lessons, which can help boost student engagement. Smartboards support multimedia, like videos and webpages, and they offer tools like highlighting, zooming in and circling areas to draw attention to key concepts.

AI Tools

Artificial intelligence can never truly replace human intelligence, but teachers can use AI tools to improve their own productivity and efficiency. For example, AI tools can automate certain clerical tasks, which means teachers can spend more time working with their students. 

In addition, generative AI tools can help teachers with:

• Developing ideas for classroom activities
• Creating lessons
• Developing assessments
• Brainstorming prompts for classroom discussions

Using Technology in Teaching: Classroom Tech Tools

Technology plays an important role in both virtual and classroom learning. Flipgrid and Zoom are a couple of useful tools you can use in your classroom to help get both students and parents engaged.

Flipgrid

Flipgrid is a video discussion tool for students of all ages. It’s much like an online discussion forum for a class but in video format. The teacher posts a video topic pertaining to the lesson plan and the students record their own discussion videos and post them to the grid.

Flipgrid can offer greater accessibility and engagement for students than traditional text-based discussion platforms. It’s accessible through Microsoft Teams for Education.

Zoom

Zoom is the web-based videoconferencing platform that many people relied upon for meetings during the pandemic. It’s also handy for teachers, and not only for those teaching online classes.

Consider implementing Zoom technology in other useful ways, such as virtually bringing a guest speaker to class. You might even suggest Zoom meetings for parent-teaching conferences as a way to boost parental involvement.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a no cost learning management system that fosters collaboration and communication between teachers and students. The platform supports announcements, direct messages and class discussions. It can also help streamline the process of creating, handing out and grading assignments, as well as allow teachers to easily share digital resources with students.

Google Classroom can also encourage parental engagement in education. Through this platform, parents and guardians can check out their student’s assignments.

Are There Downsides of Using Tech in the Classroom?

Although technology in the classroom can bring many benefits, it’s important for teachers and administrators to be aware of the potential pitfalls. One of the biggest risks to be aware of is the threat of cyberattacks. Schools are not immune to cybercrime, and security breaches can compromise sensitive student and staff data. The more digital assets are in place, the more potential points of entry for a cyber-criminal.

Other potential downsides of integrating tech in K-12 schools include:

• Increase in distractions for students
• Decrease in socialization and physical activity for students
• Potential to increase opportunities for cyberbullying
• Cost of installing and maintaining tech
• Need for more staff training

Earn Your Teaching Degree at GCU

A teaching career offers limitless potential for innovation. From using technology in teaching to boosting student engagement and parental involvement, you could make a considerable difference in your community as a teacher.

Your first step toward becoming a teacher is to earn a teaching degree. You have many options to choose from. Start by considering which age group you’d like to teach. For example, you could earn a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education or a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. 

If you decide you’d like to teach older kids, you’ll need to specialize in a particular subject area, as well. For instance, if you are passionate about the power of language, you might pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Education. 

Be sure that the degree you select leads to teacher licensure for the state in which you plan to work. In addition to taking coursework in pedagogy and your subject area, you will gain practical experience with a student teaching rotation. You’ll also need to meet other licensure requirements for your state, such as passing a background check.³

If you are interested in learning how educational technology can benefit your classroom, join us at Grand Canyon University for any of our teaching degree programs. Many of them have a technology-focused approach that could help you integrate technology in your classroom.