Good morning everyone!! I am Jayson Win Bato, and I will be your speaker.

So today I
will discuss; THE IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY IN DISTANCE
LEARNING

We have here examples of the importance and benefits of technology in distance

learning but before that let us first define what distance learning is.

Distance learning can truly be defined as the way of getting education without visiting a
school or attending a class physically. Earlier the material related to the distance
learning course was delivered through mail but due to increasing use of the internet and
technological advancements today it is available on your computer screen. It also allows
you to move from static learning materials to more dynamic interactive media content.
Another benefit of technology in learning is that students often learn faster when they are
not only listening to the teacher and reading textbooks but also participating in engaging
academic activity.

That's why technology is important in distance learning because adding technology to

the remote learning classroom can make communication a lot easier. When students
have access to computers and the internet, they can better communicate with their
teachers during distance learning.

Here are some examples of importance and benefits of technology in distance learning

1. It is flexible
A key benefit of technology in distance learning is flexibility. This benefit encouraged
many educators to shift to distance learning after the coronavirus outbreak since e-
learning allows students to continue participating in class without having to be physically
present.

Here are just some of the ways technology in distance education offers greater flexibility
than a traditional classroom setting:

•Teachers and students can adapt learning to their personal schedules

•Some parents can adapt their schedules to assist their children since physical teachers
are not present, but take note we also understand this is a difficult task for parents.
•It can cater to a student’s productivity needs. For example, maybe a student lacks focus
in the morning but pumps out most of their work in the evening. With the use of
technology it doesn’t require students to be on call at a specific time.
•Students can send direct messages with their questions to teachers whenever they
need to.
•There’s also flexibility when it comes to study materials. Distance learning often only
requires a phone or computer and a stable internet connection. 

2. It can accommodate students with special needs.

As a result, using technology has several advantages for students with special needs,
including:

•An individualized and self-paced learning process that accommodates students with
ADD or learning differences.
•More accessible solutions, like tools for the hearing impaired and an option to pause,
rewind, or slow down lecture videos.

Online education continually adapts to students with specific learning needs. Doing so is
much more difficult when you’re in a physical classroom and have to manage multiple
students’ needs simultaneously.

3. It saves time

One of the best pros of technology in distance learning is that it saves you time over the
course of the day:

In a traditional school, a teacher oversees a whole class of students who raise hands,
ask for feedback, pass notes, chat with their friends — you know the deal. And all these
distractions take up time. But with the use of technology, although they may be live video
classes, a lot of the content remains available 24/7, including live-recorded class
lectures, resulting in fewer interruptions. 

Moreover, if the school is making use of pre-existing curricula and learning materials or
an LMS system, then teachers could easily save time compared to planning and
replanning lessons.

Students save time, too. If they’re doing well, they can move ahead; otherwise, they can
slow down and take their time with the material.

4. It offers more networking opportunities

Another pros of technology in distance learning is it opens up a world. For older

students, this is a huge perk, especially those in high school and college. Through
technology, students can get in touch with experts in their field of interest, numerous
teachers and professors, and much more.

5. It allows students to hone their time-management skills

Distance learning caters to a variety of learners, including the procrastinator and

anticipator. It’s up to the student how and when they will get their assignments done with
the use of technology. And regardless of whether that’s a week or day before the due
date, the process mostly depends on the student.

This responsibility differs from the more monitored traditional classroom, where all
students are expected to do the same work at the same times on the same days. For the
most part, there are no rigid schedules with online learning beyond assignment due
dates, so students have a greater say in how they complete their schoolwork. This helps
them practice good time-management skills that will serve them well in college and into
adulthood.

6. It helps students develop their technical skills

Tech-savvy individuals are in high demand in the workplace. And the majority use
technology in distance learning programs for content delivery.

The use technology in distance learning programs promote these technical skills that are
relevant to many occupations
Online research
Word processing
Video conferencing
Slide presentations
Discussion boards
Collaborative apps (like Slack)
Social networking
Email correspondence
Post info to a Wiki/website/blog 
Video creation

7. Accessible long-distance learning

Because Covid-19 imposed the demand for social distance, the result had a tremendous
impact on every area, including education. In these difficult times of Covid-19, students and
teachers faced a variety of obstacles, leading to the development of strategies that can help
minimize social interaction while also ensuring the continuance of high-quality teaching.

Students and educational institutes were forced to adopt distance learning methods like e-
learning, virtual classrooms, online repositories, etc. With the use of technology in the
Distance Learning it helps students to explore technology and use different tools or
techniques for learning, for example, PowerPoint, Virtual classrooms, Video lectures, etc.
Technology in blended learning improves the quality of education and information
assimilation while making teaching more efficient and productive.

Now the pandemic is gradually receding and life is starting to return to normal functioning.
However, opportunities like distance learning in the education sector have emerged to
ensure a much more practical and convenient learning experience. Schools can use a
distance learning approach to give entirely online classes until it is safe to return to school.

8. More control and preferred learning

With technology used in a distance learning model, students can participate in the online
component of class and look over class materials from anywhere they have internet access
in a blended learning approach, allowing them to work from wherever they want.
Furthermore, students can finish the online section whenever it is convenient for them,
allowing them to better combine schoolwork and other obligations.

The use of technology in distance learning is by making in-person and online

learning complementary, it creates a truly integrated classroom where the needs of all types
of learners can be met. Keeping students engaged, stimulated, and motivated also helps
teachers to be more effective and make greater gains with their students. Allowing learners
of all abilities the opportunity to advance their studies at the rate that works for
them, it enables fast learners to advance more quickly, while struggling students can move
at their own pace and get customized support where they’re stuck.

Students can now learn actively and productively, thanks to the emergence of mobile
phones, tablets, and PCs. Students can now enthusiastically participate with a
subject/teaching unit thanks to applications, videos, simulations, and digital books that make
the learning process much more interesting. Furthermore, they will have the ability to go
deeper into a topic that interests them. Students can access a large library of
developmentally appropriate learning materials using digitally delivered resources from
anyplace they have an internet connection or a mobile device. That means kids can learn as
much as they desire during school vacations, weekends, and wherever they are. Allowing
learners of all abilities the opportunity to advance their studies at the rate that works for
them.

9. Improved availability of information

The impact of technology is likely most obvious in the learning process. Not only is it easier
to obtain information online, but it is also available in a variety of formats. All of this
information is now largely digital and accessible via the internet, making the learning
process, creating professional papers, and gaining new knowledge in general much easier.
Every question may now be answered in a way that is both illustrative and specific, making
learning easier for all students. As a result, students spend less time looking for material and
more time studying it, which increases students' learning in class and improves learning.

Aside from the fact that students approach studying with increased enthusiasm and
productivity, they also have access to the most up-to-date topics and data. Instead of
carrying a stack of books from library to library, they can access information that can provide
them with further insight into the topics they are studying at school with only a few clicks and
well-defined questions. As a result, this practice not only provides students with a current
education, but it also teaches them how to do information searches and study difficult
professional literature.

The use of computers to look up information and data is a huge time saver since it allows
students to stay concentrated for longer periods of time, especially when combined with
access to resources like the internet to conduct research. This connection and engagement
with the resources keeps students focused for longer periods of time than books or paper
materials would, and it also contributes to the growth of learning through exploration and
research.

Technology is here to stay

There’s no way around it: COVID-19 changed our world, and the future of education will
never be the same. Distance learning may be part of our “new normal,” and instead of
seeking the downfalls, it’s time to shift our perspective and reap the rewards.

Like any other medium, distance learning is not perfect, and technology can be pretty
hectic but it can easily compete with traditional classroom instruction if implemented
properly as strategies that can help minimize social interaction while also ensuring the
continuance of high-quality teaching.