Although educational technology has many good benefits on education, it also introduces some obstacles that teachers and students must work through. The key challenges that we have learned about in this course are, in my opinion, access to technology, particularly bandwidth, digital literacy, and data privacy.
Making sure that all students have access to digital technologies and the internet is one of the most difficult aspects of educational technology. Access to technology and a reliable internet connection can make a significant impact in how well people learn, making online learning and study difficult for some pupils. Several educational establishments lack the capacity to provide enough bandwidth for classroom use (SREB, 2018).
Digital literacy comes after access to technology. Because there are so many digital tools available, students may find it difficult to filter through them all and assess the quality and value of the information. Bias and misleading information can be spread by educational technology, making it difficult for students to detect and identify. Teachers must teach learners how to identify and assess preconceptions and incorrect information via digital tools. Teachers must teach their students how to distinguish between accurate and dependable sources and those that are incorrect or biased. Because not all students have the same level of digital literacy, there may be variances in how well they learn. Educators must ensure that all students receive the necessary assistance and training in digital literacy.
Then there's the issue of security and privacy. Educational technology raises security and privacy problems. From learning management systems to access points to wireless networks to student information systems, today's universities demand technological security at every level, from individual users to networks, institutions, and even vendor partners. Schools and institutions are becoming increasingly exposed to external access as they use third-party vendor networks, cloud-based services, and online instructional technology (SREB, 2018). When using digital devices and online sites, students must understand how to protect their personal information and data.
To summarize, in my opinion, the key crucial challenges of educational technology are students' access to technology, digital literacy, and security and privacy. We must increase the availability of reliable and affordable bandwidth in order to offer educators and students with the best possible opportunity to benefit from new and evolving technologies (SREB, 2018). Teachers must address digital literacy issues by teaching students how to use digital tools and resources effectively, think critically, and act appropriately and ethically in digital environments. Finally, we must protect students, faculty, and institutions against the loss or corruption of private information as a result of a breach in technology security. State governments must support rigorous legislation in this area, as well as provide adequate training and resources (SREB, 2018).
Resources
SREB. (2018, February). 10 issues in Educational Technology. Southern Regional Education Board. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://www.sreb.org/10issues
WRITTEN BY: Francisco Sanchez
FOR: EDU6381
Hello Alicia,
Looks like we finally made it to the end of this class. I agree with your framework response to the "main issues in critical edTech" as first access to technology, digital literacy, and data privacy. Your writing is always clear, concise, and to the point. I also like the flow-like order of your top three critical issues. You start off with no access to technology, then once the student has access, you focus on proper interfacing within the digital realm. Finally, you end with the result of what happens when most of our lives take place online: We have to protect the data that ebbs and flows within it. I found this…