SCIENCE WRITING SCIENCE WRITING Adapting and Thriving: The Pivotal Role of EdTech During the Pandemic

BY ARVIN JAY BILLONES

In response to the COVID19 pandemic, education institutions around the world have switched quickly to remote learning. It was at this time that educational technology (EdTech) tools were seen as being crucial resources because they enabled education to continue and facilitated the use of innovative teaching and learning techniques. The widespread use of educational technologies demonstrated their immense value in the context of the pandemic's requirement for remote education in maintaining access to resources, promoting learning experiences, development of learning platforms, and enhancing digital literacy skills in the educational landscape.

As a result of the rapid shift to distance learning, it became clear that education technology was needed for the provision of training, interaction with students, and more focused educational experiences

The 21st century is an example of how students nowadays choose to utilize technology because of the advantages it offers for their learning This section describes the wider benefits of educational technology tools in a pandemic and shows how they will continue to play an important role in learning environments as long as pandemicspersist

The availability of readily available content is one of the key advantages of educational technology during a post-pandemic period. Students are now equipped with a wide range of knowledge thanks to the development of electronic appliances and internet connections, and the availability of Internet resources Access to a wide range of learning materials, research papers, textbooks, multimedia resources, and digital libraries has been made easy for students by means of education websites, search engines, or online databases

Educational materials are now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the digital age Thanks to the expansion of online learning platforms and technical improvements, students may now access course materials whenever they choose This democratization of information makes it easier for students to learn independently, think critically, and participate actively in the creation and dissemination of knowledge

Personalized Learning Experience

Through the use of EdTech, students could benefit from personalized learning experiences allowing them to make their own choices and meet their needs on a minute basis. Intelligent teaching aids and learning platforms that can adapt education to meet the specific needs of each student could create an educational environment that is more interesting and effective At their leisure, students can advance to a better understanding of the areas covered and complete knowledge gaps

Similarly, students may use technology and learning tools to develop excellent self-directed learning skills They can select what information they need, determine and use internet resources, and take action based on their knowledge of the problem As a result, they generate more and work more efficiently It can also be said that digital learning tools and technologies, which increase students' engagement and critical thinking skills, are the key to increasing analytical reasoning.

New Learning Platforms

In the onset of the pandemic, remote learning solutions were quickly adopted by schools and educational institutions worldwide through the use of a wide variety of educational technologies to support online learning Virtual classrooms allowing teachers to give live lectures and engage in real-time with learners have been created using video conferencing tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams Learning management systems (LMS), such as Canvas, Moodle, and Google Classroom, provided centralized platforms for arranging and distributing course materials, assignments, and assessments. With digital tools such as Padlet and Google Docs, students found that they could easily cooperate with each other to improve teamwork and interactive learning opportunities

Digital Literacy Skills

By providing students with the fundamental knowledge of digital literacy, computer skills, and the ability to navigate and evaluate information in a rapidly emerging digital environment, EdTech prepares them for the future While learning about concepts such as website legitimacy, information assurance, and digital citizenship, students will gain skills to make use of digital sources of information

To sum up, these benefits show that, in the face of a pandemic, EdTech has been able to provide empowerment for students, improve teaching strategies, and advance learning based on learners' needs. Integrating EdTech in academic settings is not simply improving teaching and learning strategies, but also preparing students for the future digital environment which inspires them to pursue lifelong learning as well as making them citizens of a technologically advanced society In order to ensure that educational technologies remain a force for student empowerment and inclusive and efficient education, we need to make the best use of EdTech's potential while at the same time addressing problems related to access, equity, and responsibility.

Indeed, EdTech plays a pivotal role in determining the future of learning, even when the pandemic recedes Indeed, learning technologies have been one of the main forces behind education innovation by changing how knowledge is communicated and acquired to provide both teachers and students with new opportunities. With the promotion of innovation, education will evolve into a continuous growth field that promotes collaboration, accessibility, and interaction to allow students to flourish in an ever-changing environment

BY JULIA MAERA TISZA AUSTRIA