APA

Educational Technology Synthesis

Integration of technology in teaching is more of an enhancement to the education sector than not. The advent of technological tools, specifically the World Wide Web has been seen as an opportunity of boosting both informal and formal learning environment by opening up the potential for the creation of innovative teaching methodologies which in all ways improves the quality of education (Kivunja, 2015).

Firstly, when one mentions technology in close relation to education, the term distance learning can never fail to reflect in the mind. Through the use of the internet, learners can now “attend” by connecting to their instructors when both are in different geographical locations; and conduct the most interactive learning process (Al-Zahrani, 2015).

Secondly, education development has been an emphasized topic in which the world invests in as a means of creating competitive economies. As such integration of technological tools in the education process can simply not be overlooked. The various areas that utilize technology, like manufacturing, civil engineering, etc. in the current world require the most qualified individuals that can help improve quality and competitiveness by the use of technology. Where else then, can we build this kind of human resource if not in school? (Johnston, 2015).

Over the past years, there has always been a need of having a workforce that can solve problems through the maximum utilization of their professional qualifications. It was difficult to get such qualified personnel in the past. In the current world, where business process have been simplified into digital interaction with objects simulated to work like the normal respective fields like purchasing, inventory and expert systems, it is right to mention that the world is now in abundance of professionals -thanks to technology (Kivunja, 2015).

Finally, as regards the teaching and learning process itself, technology can be perceived as the single most thing that can revamp the way in which information is accessed. In the library department, technological integration should be considered a mandatory practice, and as such it has to be a joint effort of all stakeholders involved in the education system in order to build the most successful and reliable teaching environment in regard to access to educational information

Hafeez, Ahmed, & Zubia 2014).

References

Al-Zahrani, A. (2015). The place of technology integration in Saudi pre-service teacher education: Matching policy with practice. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 14(1), 1-2.

Hafeez, A., Ahmed, A., & Zubia , Z. (2014). Demanding need of growing technologies in distance learning system. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 15(4).

Johnston, M. (2015). Blurred lines: The school librarian and the instructional technology specialist. Techtrends, 59(3), 17-26.

Kivunja, C. (2015). Innovative methodologies for 21st century learning, teaching and assessment: A convenience sampling investigation into the use of social media technologies in higher education. IJHE, 4(2), 1-26.

Scanlon, E., McAndrew, P., & O’Shea, T. (2015). Designing for educational technology to enhance the experience of learners in distance education: How open educational resources, learning design, and moods are influencing learning. Journal of Interactive Media in Education, 2015(1), 5-10.