The Morality of Implementing Educational Technology in the Classroom.

With more schools incorporating educational technology into their classrooms, the usage of technology in education has increased recently.

The prospect that technology would someday take the place of teachers in the classroom is one of the main worries concerning its usage in education. Teachers help pupils develop a sense of community in the classroom by fostering strong ties and emotional support between students in addition to imparting knowledge to them. Students may suffer if technology is utilized to replace teachers.

The possibility that it can exacerbate the gap between students from various socioeconomic origins is another worry concerning the use of technology in education. While children from less affluent households might not have the same access to or experience with technology, students from wealthier families may have greater access to it and may feel more at ease using it. Students may experience unequal educational chances as a result of this.

Additionally, it can individualize instruction for every student, enabling them to set their own pace and receive focused feedback.

Technology use can be morally acceptable if it improves educational opportunities for pupils and learning overall. However, it might not be a moral decision if technology is utilized to replace teachers or exacerbate the gap between students. To make sure that instructional technology benefits all students, schools must carefully assess its use.

Let’s explore some of the concerns and benefits of implementing educational technology in more detail.

Concerns:                                                             

1. Teachers Could Be Replaced: One of the main worries about adopting instructional technology in the classroom is that it might take the place of teachers. Though it can be a useful tool for information delivery and learning facilitation, technology cannot take the place of the human element in education. Teachers help kids emotionally, create a feeling of community in the classroom, and build relationships with them. Students can be deprived of these crucial components of education if technology takes the role of teachers.
2. Widening the Achievement Gap: A second issue is the possibility that kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds may continue to succeed at different levels, which raises concerns about the use of technology in education. those from more affluent homes could have better access to technology and feel more at ease utilizing it than those from less affluent backgrounds. Unfair educational chances for students may emerge from this.
3. An over reliance on technology: This problem is also a problem. Students who rely too heavily on technology may not develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for success in the workforce.

Benefits:

1. The use of educational technology has a big advantage in giving pupils individualized learning experiences. Technology enables educators to customize classes to the specific abilities and learning needs of each student, allowing them to progress at their own rate and obtaining feedback that is pertinent to their growth. Access to Resources: Students may have access to information and resources through educational technology that they might not otherwise have. Using instructional technology, children may successfully explore the internet, which is a massive repository of knowledge.
2. Workforce Preparation: By fostering students’ digital literacy, educational technology can also aid in their workforce readiness. Students who are at ease utilizing technology will have an advantage over those who are not, as digital literacy is more crucial in today’s workplace.

Other justifications for and against the application of instructional technology in the classroom, such as:

1. Data Privacy: Data about students are frequently gathered and analyzed using educational technologies. Schools Ensure that this information is being gathered honestly, transparently, and with the protection of student privacy in mind. On how to handle student data, teachers must obtain appropriate training.
2. Digital Divide: As was already established, there is a problem with the digital divide in terms of educational technology. Schools must make sure that all children have access to and comfort with technology. It might be necessary to give pupils access to technology, training, and the internet for this.
3. Digital Citizenship: Students should be taught about digital citizenship through educational technologies. This includes educating children about appropriate online conduct, online safety, and technological ethics.
4. Technology Quality: The standard of instructional technology utilized in schools might differ greatly. It is crucial that educational institutions make investments in high-quality, dependable technology. Otherwise, the technology might not help pupils learn and might even get in the way of it.
5. Price: Using technology in teaching can be pricey. To guarantee a profitable return on investment, schools must make sure that their technological investments are carefully assessed. Planning and budgeting in detail may be required in this case to make sensible decisions.

The moral dilemmas surrounding the use of instructional technology in the classroom are quite complex and should be thoroughly thought through. Despite some possible drawbacks, technology has many benefits for the educational process. The most important thing is to use technology in a way that promotes learning and offers each student an equal chance to achieve.