Technology And The Pursuit Of Knowledge by Jack

Technology And The Pursuit Of Knowledge by Jack - January 2020 Scholarship Essay

I come from a generation that has had the internet and all of its knowledge just a few clicks or taps away. The argument has been made--and probably will be made for a long time--that this access is more negative than positive, but I am here to tell you that this is entirely false. Sure, the internet can be used to waste time, but the number one thing that the internet was created for was to make knowledge available to everyone. This is a massive asset in all aspects of life but most importantly in classrooms. The relatively recent addition of Chromebooks and ipads to High school classrooms has made learning a completely different experience. In the past if we didn’t understand the subject material the way the teacher taught it, we had no other options. Now, with the internet we can look for other ways of learning.
It is no secret that there are many different learning styles, but for decades, perhaps centuries, the common classroom has always been taught the same way. For someone who is a visual learner like myself it doesn’t work to just be lectured on a topic. Luckily, I was born into the generation that can utilize things like slideshows and websites in order to better understand the subject material. I can confidently say that without these tools school would be immeasurably harder, and definitely less enjoyable.
Another way that technology has positively impacted my classroom experience is in the form of teacher websites. A lot of my teachers, particularly those with more challenging classes, post links to notes and outside resources to help students who don’t understand the material. This has helped me on countless occasions. When I don’t understand things in class I turn to these teacher approved resources and nine times out of ten I am able to figure out my questions on my own.
To wrap it up, technology has made a massive impact in my educational career and definitely in a positive way. Without it, school would be much more difficult and undoubtedly less fun. With it, I am able to learn at my own pace and in the way that works for me, which gives me time to focus on other aspects of my life. Technology can be a waste of time, but when used correctly it can save you countless hours in your pursuit of knowledge.