Since the beginning of the first formal school more than 4,000 years ago, the use of contemporary technology has always been part of the education system.
From papyrus in ancient Egypt to touchscreen tablets in modern classrooms, the use of the most current technologies available to the public is a must for education. Although there are several roles that technology plays in education, most of these can be categorized into three categories: accessibility, interactivity, and collaboration.
- Accessibility - technology in the form of computers (both handheld and desktop devices), computer peripherals, electronic kits, audio-visual devices, mechanical devices, and the Internet of Things makes education more accessible to a wider range of students. Educational materials and classes can also be easily accessed via online platforms.
- Interactivity - technology is used not only to access the vast store of information online, but also as a means of communication and interaction between students and teachers. Learning materials can be made more dynamic and interactive. For example, for those who are just starting to learn coding and programming, they can conduct test runs of their programs on online platforms. Virtual experimentation on structural designs can also be done using certain applications before prototyping the design. Some schools have 3D printers that can be used by students to prototype designs or create scaled-down models.
- Collaboration - technology makes it possible to collaborate at various levels, both online and face-to-face. For example, students can collaborate on a research paper using cloud storage such as Google Drive. Documents can be edited in real-time among the various members of a group. They can also easily share information.
