Relevance of technology in teachers’ learning and teaching

Garima Malhotra
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
Centre for Communication Studies, Jagannath International Management School, Vasant Kunj
Abstract
Learning is an on-going process and so is the innovation. Knowledge is an outcome of learning
and technology is a result of innovation. Today, we belong to the networking age that surpass
the communication age. In this age, the concept of education has become modern and
elaborative. Now the focus has shifted from imparting knowledge to interaction, discussion and
above all encouraging participation. It looks like teaching and technology or teaching with
technology implies the dependency and integration of both on each other. This paper attempts to
give an insight on how to integrate teaching with teachers learning for effective delivery of
information and knowledge. The key focus of this paper is to find out the ways in which teachers
can embrace their learning with the help of various tools of technology. And also how teachers
can use technology to reach out to their students in most impressive style. To enable teachers to
shift from their habitual approach to contemporary approach, Here the onus is on teachers’ to
educate and impart knowledge in the most effective and efficient way. But this is only possible if
their own education is able to strengthen their own knowledge.
This paper describes the innovative approach adopted for the professional development of
teachers. It focuses on integrating technology skills based on authentic learning situations.
Through this paper an attempt is made to find out how Technology can play important role in
both teachers education and teaching methods .how technology can be made interesting to use
for learning over conventional methods. As a teacher the process of learning other than teaching
become more imperative. It is cyclic in nature i.e. from learning to gaining to delivering to
learning back. Where the exchange of knowledge will result in knowing something new not only
for the students but for the teachers as well. This paper contains dynamics of teachers’ education
integrating with technology both in their own learning and way of imparting it to students.
Key words: Learning, Teaching, Technology, Exchange, Imparting, Questionnaire, Education
Process

Introduction
Carrying the robust educational legacy of over one millennium to another, our country, India has
become one of the most successful and passionate country of imparting educational excellence.
Teaching is one way of imparting education. It is one among other professions which requires lot
of effort, hard work and the most importantly the dedication to teach. In modern age the teaching
has become competitive and comprehensive, Thanks to Technology.
Technology has made life easier, friendlier, convenient and impactful as a result it signifies its
power. The power of technology is also felt in education system, on delivering knowledge in
various technological forms. Here we are talking about teaching and technology or teaching with
technology strengthening the dependency and integration of both on each other. However we
need not forget that the concept of teaching integrating with technology is still very much
restricted to urban areas and cities.
Learning to use technology while also learning to teach is a multi-directional experience. To be a
good teacher, you need to create a motivating learning situation. Students should be provided
with an easy, secure and safe environment in order to perform at their best. Students will
experience many physical, rational, demonstrative, intellectual and social changes in their early
age, so they need to feel safe and structured to perform best in their learning. The teacher plays
an indispensable role in every student’s behaviour, development and education.
Today, education is progressive in nature and teaching leads to its progression. But what can
help and boost teaching is using technology in various and most effective way possible.
Progressing with the technologies, education too witnessed a major reformation. These
transformations involved a change in the values and practices. From the 'teacher centered'
classroom teaching the emphasis is now more on the learner. Technology is fast changing and so
is the education and teaching scenario therefore bringing in the amalgamation of modern
techniques in learning and teaching can embrace the overall education system. To educate the
students it becomes vital for a teacher to upgrade his/her own knowledge and technology can be
of great help. One can say that technology works it in a dual way both for teachers learning and
teachers teaching. Using technology for teaching and learning purpose has shaped into a skilled
or we call it a competency based education which we are imparting to the students
Technology and teaching go hand in hand and are inter related in terms of its functioning. The
onset of online learning made education available anywhere, anytime transgressing the obstacles
of time and place. Technology can have a real impact on education if used intelligently with
effective teaching practices. The effect of technology on education be contingent on the way of
giving instruction. Educators and educational researchers should be stimulated to focus on
determining how to better integrate the use of a given technology to facilitate learning.
The endowment of professional expansion that enables teachers to integrate technology into the
curriculum is one of the most important factor in the effective use of technology and it needs due
attention to improve and sustain it.
There is a growing agreement among educators and the general public that technology should
play a more integral role in students’ education. However, the question of whether the utility of
technology into the classroom has an optimistic impact on teaching and learning is still under
intense discussion within the educational community.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Laurie Thomas (1996) examined that the use of technology as a tool for learning to teach is
beneficial ,many instructive technology instructors and teacher educators now resist that the key
to providing optimal technology experiences for students is to incorporate the use of technology
into all or most education courses using an infusion model According to Topp et al., 1994,It is
our experience that an infusion model better enables and boosts learning because it provides
experiences that situate technology use as an instructional resource not just a tool for extension
of elementary skills. Technology bathed in teacher teaching may serve to grow in students more
principled and responsible knowledge, skills, and natures in technology use in learning to teach
as opposed to a view of technology as a separate and self-sufficient element, disconnected from
detailed focus matter. ", or adding on approach to the application of technology into teacher
education programs. The Office of Technology Assessment report (1995) separated teacher
education instruction in technology into three areas:
Discussion/demonstration;
Professional practice and
Technology practice
The third level, professional practice, is the most serious level of engagement. Although student
teachers need to exercise teaching with technology, the OTA report discovered that while half of
recent teacher education graduates reported being equipped to teach with technology in drill and
practice, writing, tutorials, as less than one in ten felt they could use such formats as hypermedia
packages, electronic performances, collaborations over networks, or problem-solving software.
Gail Burrill(2006) Discussed that the interface between technology and teachers is an open
question with new walks occurring through the internet and learning. The use of technology can
link teachers to professional development, provide additional resources for teachers, and help
teachers conduct classes. Eric Klopfer (2009) Concluded that Technology can have a mutual
relationship with teaching. The arrival of new technologies shoves educators to considerate these
technologies for classroom use; at the same time, the on the ground execution of these
technologies in the classroom can (and does) directly influence how these technologies continue
to take form. According to by Sylvia S. Martin, Recent trends in special education include the
use of technology to provide vital supports so students who are differently abled can
demonstrate, participate and access in development in the overall education standards which are
based on curriculum. Research addressing technology’s impact on student learning must be
demonstrated for continued support of technology in teaching. Student learning is prolonged to
include not only academics, but also areas of functional skills, cultural and linguistic
considerations, developmental skills, and transitional domains, in particular social sphere and
career sphere. Prevalent themes in the special education technology literature are discussed with
implications for research in education, and teacher education and technology.
OBJECTIVE
 To study the cyclic nature of education process in context of teachers’ i.e.-
Learning teaching Learning

 To study how technology helps in upgrading teachers’ learning and way of imparting it to
students.
TECHNOLOGY TOOLS FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING
We belong to modern age where technology user are becoming more efficient and compact. The
biggest challenge for a teacher is to attract the attention of the students, win their belief in
learning and result in imparting knowledge. However to use technology and make it impactful
there are few points which needs to be considered like
 Creativity and choice
 Own style
 Dealing with possibilities and difficulties of the medium
 Specific practical competence for the software
 Facilitating communicative competence
The days of, distributing paper handouts, writing on a chalk board, using an overhead projector,
to discuss in the class rooms may soon be left behind us. Technology is moving ahead at a
speedy pace and this has affected many aspects of a teacher’s life. Teachers are now becoming
familiar with SMART Boards, even social media to connect students, cloud file sharing such as
Dropbox, google drive, was never previously never thought off.
Teaching technology
SMART Boards
Today, classrooms are dumping out-of-date overhead projectors for more cost efficient,
attractive and interactive tools, mainly SMART Boards. As Contrived by Smart Technologies,
the SMART Board is a communicating, white board with a screen, projector and computer all
combined up together in one. Once connected, the SMART Board allows teachers and students
to share webpages, even play videos and write with styles. The Nellie Mae Foundation provides
a helpful resource for teachers looking to integrate technology in the classroom, including lesson
plans, basic delivery of power point presentation and suggested educational games.
Cloud Sharing
Another interesting and type of connecting teaching technology that teachers should be
acquainted with is file sharing and cloud storage applications such as google drive and Dropbox.
Information to one and all at same time is becoming a trend now. It’s easy, save time and of
course energy as well. As many educators have discovered, USB storage devices can easily
break, sometime got disrupted and become corrupted. With Google drive and Dropbox, simply
upload any file from your home computer or laptop and reopen it back at teaching place. In order
for the transfer to be fruitful, the computer of that teaching place must also have the software
installed, and the best part is that, both applications are free! These file sharing applications are
particularly helpful for collaborating and cooperating on projects with colleagues, and can be a
great way for teachers to share, assign, collect, and remark on the students’ papers. No matter
which program a teacher uses, file sharing and cloud storage help to minimize printing costs,
save paper and are dynamic organizational tools for teachers.to be updated and get connected to
share ,express and explain any topic this technology can be of great help. But the vital issue here
is that teachers should be updated with these techniques as how to handle it, operate it then only
he/she can deliver successful lecture in the most effective’s manner by using these technologies.
Social Media
Social media is most influential, impactful and luring medium of attracting the attention of the
students. It is a medium to market oneself as a technologically proficient teacher, one needs be
familiar with the various types and forms of social media. Facebook and Twitter have millions of
users making billions of posts, and it is to our advantage to understand how one might tweet,
post, or even blog in the classroom. Social media allows teachers to connect with other teachers,
organizations, and even their students. This can be very beneficial in terms of communication
and building and retaining connection for those teachers who are on, out of town, long term leave
or those students participating in distance learning. Being aware about the social media and
practicing it will not only help teachers relate to their students, but it can also improve the way
one teach and manage a classroom. The teachers are using social media to enhance discussion
and encourage student participation is becoming a trend now a days. In same way Whatzap is
becoming the most powerful way of getting connected to one and all and easily accessible to
share information ad exchange thoughts.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
According to the objective in the present study the “survey method” has been used. Through
“convenient sampling” Primary data is collected from 100 academicians from 5 different
institutions of Delhi (20 from each institution, and institutions where smart boards and other
technologies mentioned above are practiced among Teachers and Students). For the successful
completion of the study primary data is collected through questionnaire. The focus of the study is
to determine how the technology is helping the teachers both in their own learning and teaching
purposes.
DATA ANALAYSIS
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
It is clear from the analyses that both the technology and education are a great combination if
used collected with a right reason and clear vision. Technology causing education to improve
over time and not just been catching up with the trend of educational technology. The technology
improves education to a greater extent that it has now become a need for revolutionizing
education for the better and for the best. With technology, educators, students have a variety of
learning tools at their fingertips. The access to unrestricted information and new techniques will
allow teachers to endlessly develop their skills and improve upon their ideas. Being familiar with
teaching technology and implementing it within the classroom can give the students a variety of
ways to learn and help them achieve success.
The technology is being used so much these days in each and every domain of our lives, be it the
education or even the regular household work, that have we ever taken out a second to think if
it’s leaving a positive impact on our work or it’s just that we have been relying too much on it
that we’ve become habitual to it, may be ignoring its impact.
Earlier, technology in education has been an arguable topic amongst the society. Everyone have
their own views on modernizing the education and making it a technology aided concept. There
are a huge number of positives and negatives to education technology. But, slowly as technology
is been incorporated by many educational institutes, these institutes have realized the importance
of technology in education. Analyses suggest that it has more positives than the negatives and
now, with technology, education has taken a complete new connotation that it leaves us without
any confusion or doubt that our educational system has been transformed and is continuously
transforming owing to the ever-advancing, growing, changing, technology.
Teachers can collaborate their ideas and resources to share online. They can communicate with
others across the world in an instant, meet the limitations of their work, refine and reform it and
provide their students with the best of knowledge. This approach definitely enhances and
improves the practice of teaching and also teachers own learning.
Students can develop valuable research skills at a young age: Technology gives students
immediate access to an abundance of quality information which leads to learning at much
quicker rates than before. Online education is now credited so much because it has changed the
way we view education. There are so many instances where we can see the improvement in
education, with the induction and development of technology.
Educational Technology improves the student learning outcomes. Analyses suggests that
educational technologies can definitely improve student achievement, so long as such that these
tools must be integrated thoughtfully into teaching and learning. When digital competences like,
online environments are combined meaningfully into instruction, students have more
opportunities and prospects to learn and to achieve.
Over so many years, there are number of studies that have shown benefits from the use of
technology in education. The role of technology in education is important, and the question is no
longer restricted to if technology enhances learning, but rather how do we improve the use of
technology to enhance teachers own learning and imparting knowledge to students.
REFERENCES
BOOKS-
Handbook of journalism by vs gupta and vir bala(2001 edition)
Mass communication in india by keval j kumar

Modern mass media –By john c.merrill, john lee Edward jay Friedlander

WEBIOGRAPHY-

http://edtechreview.in/news/681-technology-in-education

http://downloads01.smarttech.com/media/research/international_research/canada/
interimfindings_unbresearchbrief.pdf

http://www.ed.gov/oii-news/use-technology-teaching-and-learning

https://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/teaching_aids/IASE/IASE.book.pdf

http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/technology/topics/

http://www.academia.edu/245303/
Using_technology_to_improve_learning_teaching_and_research_in_my_professional_practice

QUESTIONNAIRE Tick the choice agreeable to you

Q-Does the use of technology has become an integral part of your life?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
Name-
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree Designation-
Q-Does technology is helpful in your self-learning? Age-
A. Strongly Agree Organization Name-
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree
Q-Does technology is helpful in your teaching practice?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree

Q-Does technology like cloud sharing and google drive help in exchanging information quickly
and easily?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree
Q-Does Technology like smart board is an effective educational tool in classroom teaching?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree
Q-Does technology like smart board increases student engagement more in class room over
chalk board?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree

Q-Does the technology like smart board can overpower chalk board completely?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree
Q- Does technology helps in improving networking among other teachers?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree
Q- Does technology helps in improving networking among students?
A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree

Q-Does technology has made Teaching-learning process more interactive?

A. Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Strongly disagree
D. Disagree
E. Neither agree nor disagree