Reflection 1: What is the impact of technology on education and on us?

Week one’s driving question explores how technology can impact education for both students and teachers. It became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic that digital learning came with both strengths and weaknesses within educational settings. While it is evident that technology has helped educational systems immensely with lesson plans, online classes and platforms such as google classroom for additional work, it is important to recognise that access to technology doesn’t always mean students are learning effectively.

As someone who grew up being quite comfortable with using technology, I initially believed that having access to digital tools would mean effective learning. However, I’ve come to realise that access alone does not guarantee engagement and understanding. While I benefit greatly from technology as an online student, especially when it comes to flexibility and being able to collaborate on group projects through a screen, I also experience a sense of disconnect from my peers and educators. Even though we’re constantly on zoom calls, it can feel quite isolating. This aligns with AITSL’s (2021) point that technology on its own does not improve learning outcomes, it is about how well teachers use it and integrate it into teaching practices. 

Digital learning has definitely exposed students to more opportunities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, students were able to continue their education, graduate virtually, and avoid major disruptions (Timotheou et al., 2023). However, the constant screen time and lack of face to face interaction caused physiological damages to many students. Research by Kirschner & De Bruyckere (2017) shows that constant screen exposure and digital multitasking contribute to cognitive overload and decreased focus. I noticed this in myself, while learning from home initially seemed easier and more time efficient, I found it more difficult to retain information and stay motivated.

Additionally, the design of online learning environments often prioritise speed, access and delivery over critical thinking. According to AITSL (2021), without strong teaching practices, technology alone isn;t enough. As a future teacher, I'm concerned about how these patterns, shorter attention spans, increased screen fatigue and reduced interaction may impact my students ability to think critically and stay engaged over time.

In conclusion, I’ve realised that technology can be both a powerful tool and a serious obstacle. It can support learning, but it can also isolate, overwhelm, or disadvantage students when not used efficiently. As a pre-service teacher, this has made me reflect on the ways in which I will implement technology in my future classrooms and how I will go about delivering content. 

References

AITSL. (2021). Evaluating the evidence for educational technology Part 2 – Enabling learning. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. https://www.aitsl.edu.au/research/spotlight 

Kirschner, P. A., & De Bruyckere, P. (2017). The myths of the digital native and the multitasker. Teaching and Teacher Education, 67, 135–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.06.001 

Timotheou, S., Miliou, O., Dimitriadis, Y., Villagrá Sobrino, S., Giannoutsou, N., Cachia, R., Martínez Monés, A., & Ioannou, A. (2023). Impacts of digital technologies on education and factors influencing schools’ digital capacity and transformation: A literature review. Education and Information Technologies, 28(6), 6695–6726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11714-2