What would you say when someone asks you about the effectiveness of using technology in classrooms? The first thing that most people think of are the negatives since the news usually talks about how toxic it can be. But there are so many more benefits to using technology in classrooms as a tool to improve students’ learning.

Technology facilitates the process of teaching and learning.

Have you ever seen a classroom in DIS without a Smart TV? In DIS, every classroom on campus has a Smart TV. With a big screen that everyone can read from and draw on, the whole class can be on the same page, and teachers make classes more interactive.

Though teachers had access to Google Classroom and similar programs in days past, the websites were underutilized, left to collect dust in a corner as students completed worksheets. After the era of online learning, teachers begun – and then continued – to upload all resources used in class on Google Classroom, making learning accessible to students wherever they are.

Just like Smart TVs and Google Classroom, tools like Google Docs, Quizlet, Kahoot, and devices like iPads and tablets can help boost your learning efficiency.

Technology allows students to take notes more efficiently and familiarize themselves with the devices.

Using your device to take notes in class can give you a huge advantage over pencil and paper. You can get more words down by typing than writing, and it’s easier to go back and edit.

Now, imagine yourself in 10 years. It doesn’t matter if you’re a dentist, architect, teacher, or whatever job you plan to pursue. I guarantee that you’ll be using technology every single day. By acclimating yourself to tech in class, you can improve your typing skills, learn all the useful shortcuts and be able to better know your way around your device once you get a job.

Technology reduces the use of paper and helps the environment.

I’m sure you all know by now that technology is what allows us to go paperless. This helps the environment, reducing the deforestation for paper production since we do most things digitally.

To address the counterargument that digitized learning decreases handwriting abilities; if you purchase an iPad or a tablet where note-taking is still based on handwriting, you don’t have to worry about a decline in your penmanship. As a bonus, you won’t have to rummage through your bag all the time to look for the physical copies of worksheets. Along with that, you still get the benefit of writing by hand which is widely known to help you understand the material better.

As learners in an environment where tech usage is strongly encouraged, it’s important that we take note of all the benefits that it is giving us and learn how to use it to its fullest potential.