GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 311
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Computers are becoming an essential part of education. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using computer technology in education and give your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Computers have become a vital tool in educational institutions. Although the phenomenon suffers from a few drawbacks like varied computer literacy levels and academic dishonesty, I believe that it is more beneficial as it provides enormous resources and an effective teaching tool.
One of the major drawbacks of technology in education is varied computer literacy among teachers and learners. Put simply, computers pose an extra challenge to teachers because they have to deal with learners of varying computer literacy levels. Some pupils come into the classroom well versed in computer literacy, yet others enter with no prior knowledge. It is therefore difficult for educators to handle this vast difference. On top of that, not all teachers are technologically sound when it comes to teaching using computers and the internet. Another primary disadvantage is academic dishonesty. Students who intend to plagiarize can simply copy and paste information into their assignments. For example, at least 20%-25% of students got involved in academic dishonesty, according to a recent college survey, due to the ease of cheating when they took tests from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, the benefits of using computer technology in education are enormous. To begin with, the main advantage is that students get access to video tutorials, e-books, course materials and online collaboration platforms where they can grasp difficult concepts easily and flexibly. For instance, “Padlet” is a collaboration platform where pupils can ask questions, share ideas as well as continue class discussions beyond the classroom. Even though varied computer literacy and academic dishonesty negatively impact learning, I believe that using computers in education is more advantageous. This is because computers prove to be highly effective teaching tools. For example, teachers, with the help of computers, can show videos, images and texts that are interesting and relevant to what they are teaching.
In conclusion, employing computer technology in education poses some challenges but it offers students a large resource for learning and is proved to be an effective teaching tool. It is expected that teachers would use technology to make education more interesting, engaging and intuitive.
With the advent of modern technology and globalization, schools have started to use various digital technologies in order to improve the teaching and learning processes and make lessons more interactive. However, such trends, in my perspective, have their own drawbacks. This essay will consider both perspectives but will focus on the negative impacts of cutting-edge digital devices on the education process.
On the one hand, the advantages of using the internet, computers and other portable devices in the current educational process are enormous. Computers have a database of a range of educational materials such as video tutorials, e-books, and other materials that help students learn better. The interactive platforms that computers enable teachers and students to use are highly beneficial. It connects learners from anywhere in the world and offers updated information and educational games, which makes the educational process more interactive and fun, while at the same time helping students to obtain more useful and newest information in a more relaxed atmosphere.
While computers might seem like a useful instrument in the studying process, it has severe drawbacks on the quality of education and students’ mental health. Nowadays, many tutors use computers to provide their lessons and the whole process is done online. It lacks the personal touch and in-person motivation in the classroom. Some lessons are prepared without a detailed explanation and they contain some fuzziest points. Such a method of teaching, using computers leads to surface learning, useful only to pass formal exams but unfortunately fail to provide comprehensive knowledge. Moreover, modern, educational-social platforms and portable digital devices are often fulfilled with tons of useless information, and gullible students who watch all educational-interactive videos often overload their brain with useless and useful information and damage their brain cells. In the short term, it might create anxiety and stress, but in the long term, it might lead to various neurological disorders such as delirium and suicidal tendency due to the unstructured neuro-bonds.
In conclusion, despite some tangible benefits of using electronic devices in contemporary schools, they have many disadvantages. Their benefits pale in comparison to the tremendous negative impacts of this process. It is expected that real teachers would teach students in classroom-based education settings.