Technology Is Not Always
Necessary For
Interactive Learning
By Erica Murphey
A
ccording to some educational professionals
computers are not always needed when it co-
mes to participation in the classroom. Though
technology can help students in many ways,
educators should not ignore the benefits of low tech
interactive learning for whom they teach. These ad-
vantages include learning from their students, foste-
ring new ways of thinking, and understanding pupils
on an individual level.
Interactive vs. Passive Learning
The difference between passive and interactive lear-
ning is that passive learning is usually one sided.
When a student learns passively he or she might be
doing something like listening silently to a teacher’s
lecture whereas when one learns interactively he or
she might give feedback about the lecture.
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Technology in the Classroom
While technology such as iPads, Kindles, and com-
puters can give pupils access to a great deal of in-
formation with just a push of a button or a touch on
a screen some students in poverty may not have ac-
cess to the internet or other high tech gadgets at
home. Moreover, each child might be at a different
technological skill level. More traditional participatory
learning methods are not only inexpensive to schools,
but their advantages never expire.
56 | ZEALOUSNESS MAGAZINE | Winter / Spring 2017