Reflective Question 1

Technology has been a constant presence throughout my educational experience, from using interactive whiteboards and projectors for visual learning in primary school to relying heavily on a personal laptop for the majority of my senior years. Reflecting back, I can appreciate the extent to which technology has shaped my education, as I increasingly depended on online materials to conduct research, complete assessments, and develop digital learning skills. Additionally, the involvement of technology in school assists the development of digital literacy skills, which are essential for future employment as technology becomes further embedded in the workplace (Thelma et al., 2024). However, my experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate that its growing presence does not necessarily make learning effective for every learner. Although technology made it possible for education to continue during the pandemic, the sudden shift from familiar classroom settings to online, impersonal lessons made it difficult for me to learn effectively. Studies focusing on the shift during the pandemic claim that "many schools demonstrated a lack of experience and low digital capacity, which resulted in widening gaps, inequalities, and learning losses" (Timotheou et al., 2022). Therefore, the question of whether integrating developing technologies into educational settings leads to improved learning outcomes is not inherently 'black and white'; it is dependent on how it is applied and the individual needs of the learner. 

In conclusion, this reflection has shown that effective technology integration in education depends on how it is implemented and requires an understanding of its limitations. My plan as a future educator in an increasingly digitised world, is to apply digital technologies purposefully through consideration of each learner's needs while maintaining a balance of face-to-face and technological learning experiences. Through this, we can ensure that digital technologies within education aim to support the learning environment, and reduce limitations.