The question that has directed my exploration into education is best summarized by (Hensen, 2012) “How do we create a fulfilling educational experience that will inspire, challenge, and engage students across all grade levels—as well as give teachers and educators the necessary tools to accomplish the same for their students?” Unless the teachers and educators do not have the right tools, one cannot expect them to develop the capacity to create “…fulfilling educational experience that will inspire, challenge, and engage students…”, (Hensen, 2012)

One of the chief tools in the world today that has been experimented with and explored is Technology. My experimentation has been my Maths class at a school I worked in. I found a number of advantages in using technology as well as a number of challenges. For the sake of keeping it real, I am staying with my own personal experience to compare.

 Advantages of using technology

1. Self-Paced lessons

• (% and self-study using IT, 2019) gives a precisely designed lesson that was used to learn Percentages by grade 7 students. This was a self-study lesson with broad boundaries within which the students could pace it out themselves. Having a laptop per student with free Wi-Fi made it possible to conduct the lesson in this way.
• A self-paced lesson allows students to learn at their pace and not at a standard pace that is set by the class run by a teacher. It enhances their skills of independent learning, information processing, and time management. It also gives the students a chance to go as deep as possible in learning. “Differentiation of content” is possible. (UNESCO, 2004, p.6)

2. International collaboration

The teachers in the aforesaid school also had a laptop and Wi-Fi that was free in the school as well as the home (for boarding teachers). As we explored various websites for resources that were open-source, we also discovered a pool of teachers that were international collaborators. For example, when I appreciated a set of worksheets uploaded on a website (www.tes.co.uk), the teacher not only sent me the whole set but also requested to give feedback on her work. This opened the avenues of connecting with a large group of individuals across the planet.

3. Time management

• We used a learning management system called https://www.veracross.com/. I used it extensively to upload daily data of marks, classwork, homework, and worksheets. I also wrote comments with grades for parents to access. I could do away with the traditional registers, parents had quick feedback on their wards, and worksheets lost by students could be downloaded by them again from veracross. Veracross software also did all the calculations for the final reports once the rubric was inserted.
• Systems such as these, when used properly, go a long way to save time and energy. There is also no worry of losing data as they kept the daily backup of the files. I could use the time in developing myself professionally.

Disadvantages of using technology

As with all ideas, the use of technology is not without its difficulties. However, as the following points will show, the difficulty is not in the tool itself, but in the way, it is expected to be used. "The key to integrating technology successfully is to convince teachers that they can do something with it that they can't do without it." (Delaney, 2011)

1. Accountability for teachers

Using veracross turned the entire system of grading very transparent. The parent could see the track chart of his or her ward and also compare the use of veracross by different teachers. Some teachers were good at managing veracross while some were not. But due to the transparency, the accountability of each was a lot. Hence it led to a lot of stress among the teachers who were slow on the uptake. Teacher differentiation was missing.

2. Self-management by students

Finally, they were resolved only because of the students’ love for self-study using web-based modules. But precious time was lost. I wonder if students in India are ready for the skills of self-management?

3. Status symbol by stakeholders

“When manufacturers and developers demonstrate tools, they make it look simple, so principals expect teachers to hit the ground running.” (Delaney, 2011)

The school owners buy the tools of technology based on the current rage or get swept off by marketing gimmicks. It is also at times more of a status symbol than a genuine analysis of the needs of the curriculum. This ends up in increased expenditure on technology, teachers unable to find fruitful use, and frustrated parents who pay for the tools by the hiked fee.

In conclusion, I would say that technology tools have a lot that they can add to the teaching-learning process. However, the chief goal should be to stay clear on the objectives of the learning and check the role technology tools can play to achieve them. Also, bringing in tools of technology is not enough. We also require relevant teacher education and autonomy for the teachers to learn to adapt, accommodate and adjust the tools based on the needs of their own classrooms.

About the author

Monica Kochar started her career as a Maths teacher in 1993. She has years of experience as a Maths Curriculum Designer with leading education platforms. This write-up has been reproduced from ' Humane Maths ' with the Author's consent. Any views expressed are personal.