Teaching with Digital Technology

In order to improve, in any context, we must be able to define and implement the tools in our environment. This statement is broad but serves as a useful point of departure in trying to understand how technology can be used as a tool in education.


Educating can be defined as the act of creating and enlarging knowledge in others. So how does the use of technology fit into this? Should it replace the current pedagogy of education, and, how can it be used in conjunction with current teaching methods without depleting the human aspect of teaching?


The use of digital technology does not have to even be present in the classroom. The idea of digital technology in education should be seen as a tool to guide and fuel the knowledge of the students through the creation of multiple platforms for learning, many having nothing to do with physical class time. An example of this is the notion of ‘teaching naked’. It proposes that digital tools can be completely absent from the classroom, but that they can still contribute to the classroom experience. This means that the use of digital technology should be encouraged as they can be used outside of the classroom in order to create a greater learning experience inside the classroom.


It would make sense to find a platform (tool) that can be utilised by all in order to enlarge knowledge. The use of digital technology in everyday life has exploded into many societies around the world. Does it not make sense then to use this as a tool for education? The knowledge is out there for the students to find; it takes only a few seconds to find information on the internet. Perhaps teaching them how to find credible, accurate and useful information it is a good start in the creation and enlargement of their knowledge.


The point is that in this new era of knowledge seekers, digital technology is at the forefront of knowledge acquisition. As a result, we as educators need to accept and utilise this fact. We need to use digital technologies to our benefit. Digital technology is a tool for teaching more widely and effectively and thus it needs to be utilised.