Education and New Technologies

Are old education methods getting in the way of new ones? In a world where technology advances quickly and access to information and the amount of information available increases, many think that old education methods are passé and the bold new future is the new and better way, but is that really the case?

When a person thinks of traditional learning they might automatically think of an old-fashioned chalkboard with A-B-C written on the top and an apple for the teacher on the corner of the chalk brush ledge.  And when someone thinks of new they may picture “smart-boards” with touch screens and interactive displays.

Many parents approach us here at Chelsea and ask, “Is there an advanced tool my child should have to help them?”  or “Is all this technology just fancy games on a computer? Wouldn’t my child learn more by actually having books, pen, and paper in hand?”  Not to sound wishy-washy but the answer is: “It depends.”

Some students learn best where they are watching their teacher and following step-by-step instructions and only using books, paper, pens, highlighters along with pencil and erasers to rub out mistakes.  Others learn better when they can be dazzled by and manipulate technology and work at their own pace to figure out problems and create.

When it comes to traditional (or some people will say “old”) methods, there is interactive learning between tutor and pupil. Interaction with good teachers and tutors help motivate students to learn more and achieve higher marks.  It fosters communication skills which we know are so important in today’s world where many children will “talk” to another child sitting right beside them through a phone or other device rather than turning and looking the person in the eyes and actually speaking.  Technology is great, but you will always need teachers and tutors to guide you.  No matter how smart a smartboard is or how fast a computer can give you an answer, there is nothing like having a human-being to ask questions, receive encouragement and gain insight from.

Technology is almost always popular with students and there are many teachers who embrace it, and some who are afraid of trying and learning new things. Just imagine, some teachers are afraid to learn!  However, the good thing is that a child who embraces learning technology can not only learn required subjects, but quickly learn topics that are of interest to them and anything that expands the mind is certainly what educators and parents both want.  With certain technology, students get real-time feedback which for some learners is crucial in correcting mistakes or getting positive feedback. In a world where things can change so quickly, technology can help your child keep up.

Old education methods do not have to be abandoned for new education methods.  They both have their merits. Afterall, the old methods helped create the teachers and innovators who helped create the new methods.  Be sure to discuss with your Chelsea tutor which methods might work best for you and your student. At Chelsea, our tutors are not just amazing educators, they are teachers who have both traditional training plus keep up-to-date with the latest technology and methods so that we can bring the best to our students and parents.  So, take action and talk to your Chelsea tutor today.  You just might be surprised how much your student learns from both methods. As always…Yours in Academics!