Lesson 2: Technology: Boon or Bane?

Technology: Boon or Bane?

Boon- is a thing that is beneficial or useful. It is also called "Advantage".

Bane- it is a curse or destruction. It is also called "Disadvantage".

The Educational Technology is boon when:

• Technology is a blessing for man. With technology, there is a lot that we can do which we could not do then.
• Technology contributes much to the improvement of the teaching-learning progress and to the humanization of life.
• With cellphones, webcams, we can be closer to someone miles and miles away
• Many human lives saved because of speedy notifications via cellphone.
• Your teaching and learning have become more novel, stimulating, exciting, fresh and engaging with the use of multimedia in the classroom.
• With your TV, you can watch events as they happen all over the globe.

The Educational Technology is bane when:

• When not used properly, technology becomes a detriment to learning and development.
• The learner is made to accept as Gospel truth information they get from the Internet.
• The learner has an uncritical mind on images floating on televisions and computers that represent modernity and progress.
• The TV makes learner a mere spectator not an active participant in the drama of life.
• The learner gets glued to his computer for computer-assisted instruction unmindful of the world and so fails to develop the ability to relate to others.
• We make use of the Internet to do character assassination of people whom we hardly like.
• Because of our cell phone, we spend most of our time in the classroom or in our working place texting.
• We use overuse and abuse TV or film viewing as a strategy to kill time.
• The abuse and misuse of the Internet will have far reaching unfavorable effects on his moral life.

The integration of technology in the instructional process must be geared towards:

1. Interactive and meaningful learning.
2. The development of creative and critical thinking.
3. The development and nurturing of teamwork.
4. Effective and efficient teaching.