Technology in Education

While technology has proven highly effective in business, its application in education has not been as successful. Adopting a business-oriented approach could significantly improve technology's efficacy as an educational tool. Teachers with entrepreneurial experience or a strong understanding of technology's business applications are better equipped to integrate technology effectively into the curriculum.

A core issue is that technology companies, often lacking deep understanding of educational dynamics, develop educational gadgets and software. Teachers are then pressured to use these tools, which often only tech-savvy educators can effectively implement. Many educational technologies are designed for specific learning needs, making them unsuitable for the majority of learners. To compensate, companies often attempt to create "one-size-fits-all" solutions, which rarely meet the diverse needs of a classroom.

A more effective approach would involve teachers contributing significantly (around 80%) of their practical, pedagogical expertise during the design and development of educational technologies. This would ensure that the tools are truly aligned with classroom needs and learning objectives.

Despite my computer science background, I have yet to encounter a gadget or software platform that educators can readily adapt to their specific classroom contexts. Instead of relying on multiple, often incompatible platforms that disrupt teaching and learning, a single, flexible platform is needed. This platform should be designed to be readily customizable by both teachers and learners during the learning process, not the other way around. This would empower educators to tailor the technology to their specific teaching styles and student needs, maximizing its educational impact.