The rise of technology has changed the way we learn, providing comfort and availability like never before. It offers a more pleasing and productive learning experience, some claim that it may hinder the development of our intellectual abilities. For instance, in the past, students had refer to MLA style guides to appropriately cite sources for research papers. This procedure, although time-consuming, required students to be actively involved with and remember the reference format through reading. Today, students can easily input their information into a computer, often without intensely understanding the citation process.
This overdependence on technology in education can lead to academic satisfaction, where students no longer feel the need to understand the complexities of proper citation. However, among this technological revolution, questions emerge about the kind of students this innovation is forming—could it be contributing to the creation of lazier learners and potentially blocking our intellectual growth? The rapid inclusion of technology into education has fetched both advantages and disadvantages. The one main drawback is a wave of laziness among the younger generation.
Today’s youngsters are growing up in a world where technology changed everything, letting them access knowledge and do tasks with the click of a button. While this comfort has its benefits, it has also promoted a culture of laziness, where many youngsters choose shortcuts rather than put some effort into doing something. For instance, young students while doing their assignments or some other academic task, find it easy to plagiarize from the internet. It become a trend increased by the facility of copy-and-pasting information directly from online sources. This has led to a substantial increase in academic dishonesty, with students often failing to learn the concept of plagiarism due to the plenty of information easily available on the web.
Furthermore, the immediate pleasure provided by gadgets and search engines has led to a decrease in problem-solving skills and a hesitation to engage in what is recognized as “real work.” Studying in libraries, using encyclopedias, or reading articles and journals is now a strange concept to many students. Rather, they opt for the fastest route to answers, preferring “copy and paste” over in-depth understanding. There is concern that too much use of technology in education may lead to a generation that lacks the basic work ethics required in the modern workforce. While technology has become an essential tool, students should not neglect the value of hard work and strength. Professors can strike a balance by integrating technology into the classroom while also assigning tasks that require offline problem-solving skills.
However, the liability also lies with students to identify the importance of effort and persistence and not rely exclusively on technology’s ease and speed. While technology is a facilitator, it should not substitute the basic principles of hard work and determination. In today’s fast-paced world, we are continuously more dependent on technology, but it is necessary to find a balance between the benefits of comfort and the importance of authentic learning experiences.
Even the skill of writing, with its various handwriting styles and self-expression, has been overtaken by typing skills. The reduction of cursive writing in the curricula has led to most students printing their answers, often with unsatisfactory spelling and grammar. Although there are numerous technological advances, some basic factors of education remain constant. School can still be perceived as boring by many students, even though now they express their boredom with digital slang like “LOL.” As we consider these changes in educational prospects, it becomes clear that while technology offers tremendous possibilities, it also challenges us to find a balance between convenience and genuine learning experiences.
