Digitizing the Classroom by Ajay

Digitizing the Classroom by Ajay - January 2020 Scholarship Essay

School essentials have switched from notebooks and pens to flash drives and computers. The rise of technology in the digital age in which we live has led to drastic changes, not only in the way teachers teach but also the way students receive feedback on assignments. The use of technology has positively impacted my experience in the classroom in that it allows me to have instant access to educational (and self-help) materials while also being able to have instant feedback on assignments, which allows me to improve for the future.
Through google, I can connect with videos, graphic organizers, PowerPoint presentations, and other materials created by educators and students around the world. The diversity in materials allows me to see information presented in different ways than my teachers may present them. And with every different presentation, I gain a deeper understanding of the material. I can better understand the nuances and why certain things happen. For example, the material in AP calculus BC can be challenging upon first look. But the internet has allowed me to access hundreds, if not thousands, of previous practice problems and review books. It has even allowed me to access videos of teachers teaching the material or explaining the steps to certain problems. These types of supplements to the notes and materials provided by my teacher have allowed me to be better prepared for exams and understand the material more thoroughly.
And with the creation of applications such as Google Classroom or OneNote, teachers can provide students with instant feedback on their assignments. A major essay component of the AP exam for the AP US history exam is the document-based question. OneNote allows my teacher to see the work I have completed, including document summaries, as well as the beginning of my essay. But greater, it allows her to add comments and additions, which can help shape the creation of my response and maximize my score. Before the use of educational apps and technology, students had to wait a large amount of time in between assignments, which hurts them in the long run as they do not know areas in which they can improve and where they could get more points on future assignments.
In terms of exam preparation, the internet, and technology, has given students the ability to access test prep materials and tutors. Applications such as Varsity Tutors provide students with tutoring services and test questions they can access from anywhere, which can be helpful for students- such as myself- who have extracurricular activities and therefore may not be able to drive to an in-person tutoring center. In addition, the access to test preparation resources allows students to be better prepared for exams -such as the AP exam- by accessing summaries and previous exam questions, which they may not access to without technology.
Ultimately, the technology that surrounds the classroom-from laptops to projectors- helps students better study and prepare for exams by allowing them access to prep resources as well as instant feedback on assignments. As we develop newer technologies and inventions, I hope to see more of them in the classroom, because of all the positive impacts the current technology has had on education.