For many experts, using technology in education is a powerful learning tool. This is because this is a resource that can be used to promote social inclusion in teaching and to increase student engagement with the content taught.
Technology also facilitates learning, which becomes personalized, and helps teachers create their lesson plans.
The restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic showed how important the role of technology is in education, as classes were only possible because of technological resources.
How important is technology in education?
The use of technology is relevant because it allows students to expand their knowledge and learn in an interactive, personalized and accessible way.
To keep up with the generation of digital natives, who grew up using computers, cell phones and tablets, teachers and institutions began to adopt technological resources in the classrooms.
This is because the involvement of these students in the educational and pedagogical process is more effective when innovative and technological tools are used.
Another important point of technology in education, regardless of the students' generation, is to promote literacy and digital literacyle, in this way, digital inclusion.
Furthermore, the use of technology in education looks to the future, since 65% of elementary school children will have professions that do not yet exist, according to World Economic Forum survey.
In this sense, digital technologies have become part of the spheres of perception, knowledge and learning, increasing student engagement and facilitating teaching.
5 benefits of technology in education
Using technological resources in teaching impacts society in several ways. And it brings some benefits, such as:
- Access to information: students have access to a large amount of information regarding various subjects and subjects, in real time, which expands their understanding of the topics studied in the classroom;
- Greater interaction: interaction between students and teachers increases, through chats, online forums and resources that make communication more efficient;
- Personalized teaching: teaching can be personalized, adapting the pace and content according to the needs of each student;
- Flexible learning: online courses can be accessed from anywhere, anytime;
- More motivation: technology can make classes more interesting, engaging and thought-provoking, increasing student interest and motivation.
What technologies can be used in education?
The technologies that can be used in education are diverse in terms of software and hardware, from distance learning to robotics.
Distance learning (EaD) gained strength in the last decade in Brazil, with 454% growth between 2011 and 2021, thanks to the advancement of technologies used in education.
Through EaD, virtual assistance, live chat, video conferencing platforms, online forums and accessible recorded classes are offered, which makes the learning experience more accessible.
The use of tablets and computers in classrooms makes education more diverse, facilitating study by allowing access to multimedia content.
All content is available thanks to cloud computing, a technology that hosts a huge amount of information, data, resources and information.
Another technology widely used in education is educational robotics, a teaching tool that helps build thinking and solve problems.
Challenges and perspectives of technology in education
The challenges of technology in education refer to teachers' lack of knowledge about technology and students' misuse of devices.
Other factors are low internet connection, lack of computers in classrooms, high cost of acquiring new technologies and students' online security.
To overcome such challenges, perspectives of technology in education emerge, such as general competence 5 of the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC).
It contemplates the development of skills and abilities related to the use of communication and information technologies in classrooms so that students produce knowledge with and about these technologies.
To this end, the Reference Curriculum in Technology and Computing (Cieb) by the Innovation Center for Brazilian Education.
Cieb proposes three axes that permeate all basic education: digital culture, digital technology and computational thinking.
Why iFood supports the use of technology in education
iFood bets on technology as a way to bring quality education to more people and bring more people into the job market and face the technological blackout in Brazil.
Therefore, the company developed, for example, a platform — the Tech Power— which offers courses and scholarships for people who are underrepresented in the technology market, such as women and people of color.
This is one of the initiatives that are part of iFood's commitment to promoting SDG 4, which is part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and seeks to ensure access to inclusive, quality and equitable education, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Discover iFood's education programs
iFood's education programs have already impacted thousands of people, many of whom are already employed in the technology field.
O Tech Power, platform with free courses, scholarships for technology training and path to employability has already distributed more than 17 thousand scholarships and resulted in more than 1,500 people employed.
Aimed at delivery drivers, the My High School Diploma grants scholarships to those who want to take the exam that entitles them to a certificate of completion (or diploma) of primary or secondary education. In the first class, 950 delivery drivers received the diploma.
The company also has the iFood Takes Off, a platform that offers courses for delivery men It is restaurants. More than 200,000 partners have already signed up for more than 100 courses offered, which have already issued more than 140,000 certificates.
Furthermore, iFood is a partner of 1Bi Foundation, organization that uses technology to improve education. One example is the LearnZAP, platform with more than 2 thousand contents and activities to help teachers create lesson plans in accordance with the BNCC.
The free teaching tool that offers support to teachers and students in the public education network has already impacted more than 1 million educators and students.
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