Technology's Impact on Teaching and Learning

Technology impacts us in many different ways and those include teaching and learning. When we use technology to teach our students, their learning experience is enhanced because this is what they know and feel comfortable using since they were born into the Digital Age. 

Technology can utilize the brain's reward systems to reinforce learning. This is accomplished when we let our students use a technological device, in which they can use different apps, that are motivational and fun for them with which they can create or expand on new ideas they have learned. I have noticed within my own classes, that when I have my students using technology for a performance assessment, they get super excited that they are able to create something on their own and then feel proud of what they accomplish. Even adults feel that way when they finish creating a Power Point or anything that normally can give them a bit of a hard time completing. 

The aforementioned can be linked to engaging student's emotions when learning. When individuals feel a sense of accomplishment, they will want to continue feeling that way in their future endeavors which is where technology can still continue to play a big role. Most of my past students, for example, would always ask if they could complete their assignments using a certain app instead of just using pen and paper because of the way they felt when they were able to use it. I noticed that their intrinsic motivation increased because they felt competence, relatedness and autonomy as they used technology which further caused them to develop more positive emotions in their learning and our class environment.

As we continue to appropriately implement technology in the classroom, our students' learning will increase along with their motivation and self determination because we are facilitating their learning through more than just the traditional lectures.