Digital Technology and Education - Research Proposal Example

There has been increased access to technology leading to diversification of the populations that is accompanied by a wide range of learning styles and needs that are different from those of traditional elitist populations of the students. The current study will investigate the effects of digital technology in education and the interaction between the teacher and the student in terms of their perception of digital technology 1.0 Introduction Digital technology has been a major component of education in the world of today. Tremendous changes have been experienced in education, especially in countries that are economically advanced. At the same time, the institutions of higher education learning have been challenged to respond to the needs of globalization, as well as the knowledge economy in order to prepare the competencies and skills of the 21st century which require changes in teaching practices and curriculum. This has created demand for competence and more transparent performance and accountability in research and teaching. Nevertheless, some policy makers perceive digital technology as an effective tool that will help in managing most of the changes and will act as a transformative tool in both teaching and learning. 1.1. Background to the research The 20th century has witnessed massive globalization of education. For instance, the total high education enrolment worldwide stood at 100 million in 2000s. This was 200 times higher than the enrolment at the beginning of 20th century. The number is estimated to reach 125 million by 2020. This globalization is normally characterized by huge diversification of the student enrolment since even the student from low economic backgrounds can work as part time students. Internationally, there has been massive enrolment of students especially in UK, US, New Zealand, Canada and Australia. The students normally demand flexibility in teaching and learning processes. The traditional school leavers demand more flexibility in their formal education, hence the name “digital native” grown and matured with the digital technologies and are still surrounded and immersed in digital technologies in their daily activities. Therefore, the current research will investigate the effects of digital technology on today’s business. 1.2. Research objective To investigate the effects of digital technology in modern education 1.3. Research question How has digital technology affected the education system in modern world? 1.4. Rationale for the research Today’s students have not changed just incrementally from the traditional ones but have changed in slang and styles when compared to the previous generations. There has been a big discontinuity that has fundamentally changed things until it is absolutely impossible to go back. This discontinuity has been enhanced by dissemination of digital technology. Therefore, the current study addresses the effects that the digital technology have caused to the education system to ensure that both the new generation of student can rhyme well in class with the older generation of their instructors. The move from ‘digital natives’ and the ‘digital immigrants’ will ensure that the education system is striving for new goals. 1.5. Significance of the research The current research will help the digital immigrants who have been reluctant in embracing technology and skills that are used by digital natives to ensure and interactive learning environment. This will ensure that there will be not grousing by the digital immigrants that their student never have interest in the modes of teaching that are used by their instructors. This will scrap off the mentally from digital immigrants that education should never be fun. The education system and pedagogy have currently become painfully and needlessly overcomplicated and has ignored the real needs of the students. Therefore, the current study will demonstrated that despite the recent influxes of technology in learning institutions, the implications to the education system has not been given enough attention. This will create the need of e new perspective as far as education and digital technology are concerned. 1.6. Scope of the project The digital native literature claims that digital natives are motivated differently than those of earlier generation. The current research will take a critical view on the distinction between digital natives and investigate their coexistence. The research will seek their motivation in education and determine how this has affected their learning. The researcher will recommend for the necessary changes between the digital immigrants and digital natives to enhance learning. 1.7. Methodology The research will adopt a phenomenological approach through use of semi-structured interviews and online surveys to examine the reality of digital technology. The current research will adopt a paradigmatic research approach. The phenomena that will be investigated is the effects related with digital technology. This will involve a hypothetical construct of the internal concept of effects. This paradigm will acknowledge importance of identifying with the effects of the digital technology. This enhances the phenomenological approach for the study that will position the research within subjective paradigm referred to as interpretive paradigm. Studies indicate that phenomenology elucidates whatever effects that are seen and the manner in which it is seen. The perspective of the subjects in embracing qualitative diversity of their experiences in explicating the essential meanings facilitates a detailed explanation of the essential outcomes. The thesis will be voluntarily positioned under the free will as the centre stage since human beings are autonomous and free-willed. Instead of human beings becoming products of their environment, they become creator of the environment. This shows that human beings can acquire and use innovation in regulating their approach to certain issues. 1.7.1. Research design This will provide a structure that guides execution of the research method as well as analysing the subsequent data. The current research will adopt a comparative and multiple-case research designs. A comparative research design will contrast the digital natives and digital immigrants. This will help the research draw a conclusion of the study. The multiple case studies is normally descriptive in nature. Its adoption in the currents study will help evaluate the impacts of digital technology in different parts of the world; both in low income and high end areas. 1.7.2. Data collection The research will use mixed method that integrates both the quantitative and qualitative research approaches within a single project. This will help in capitalizing on different strengths presented by both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Online surveys and semi-structured interviews will be used. The semi-structured interviews will facilitate design of the online survey questionnaires. Semi-structured interviews will enhance collection of preliminary data on issues and events from the interviewee’s perspective. The online survey will use questionnaires to facilitate further collection of data. The semi structured interviews will provide platform for design the online questionnaires. This method of data collection will enhance the support for the main findings emerging from qualitative data. Qualitative restricts the scope of the outcomes. Use of qualitative research with few individuals may make generalization difficult. However, since the research will involve quantification of the research findings, the method will be effective in uncovering generality of the research findings. 1.7.3. Data analysis The data will be analysed using qualitative content analysis. The method provides a flexible method for analysis of data and deals with the manifest content. 1.8. Annotated bibliography 1.8.1. Price, Sara and Martin Oliver. "A Framework for Conceptualising the Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning." Educational Technology & Society 10.1 (2007): 16-27. Print The article explores the impact of technology in teaching and learning. The authors presented the project that was funded to explore how technology affects learning and teaching. The authors managed to present a framework that highlights the connection between different conceptions relating to the topic of the digital technology and education. This journal will be relevant for use in the current study as it proposes a framework that explains about the interrelationship between technology, teaching and learning. This is critical in the current study as it will enhance an understanding of the need for adopting the technology in education and the changes it has to people (Price and Martin 17). 1.8.2. Tendero, Antonio. "Facing versions of the self: The effects of digital storytelling on English education." Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education 6.2 (2006): 174-194. Print The article presents a teacher-researcher case study that examines use of the digital story telling in seminars. Digital story telling has been used as a mode of shaping narratives in the current world. This will provide a comparative ground to compare the positive effects of digital technology in English learning as opposed to the beliefs by digital immigrants of technology resulting to unnecessary comfort for students. The article is vital for providing a case study research design that will help push for theorization and description of the responses of students to digital technology. The author is affiliated to the grand valley State University, which is a reputable learning institution hence the source is reliable (Tendero 174). 1.8.3. Steven, Higginss, Xiao ZhiMin and Katsipataki Maria. "The Impact of Digital Technology on Learning: A Summary for the Education Endowment Foundation." School of Education, Durham University 8.2 (2012): 1-52. Print. This is a report presenting a review of evidence from meta analysis on impacts of the digital technology in learning institutions. The authors are from the department of education from Durham University; hence, the source is reliable in providing information regarding use of technology and related impacts. The review identifies the implication for future investments through use of digital technology in schools. This will be useful in providing important information for the current research (Steven 3). Conclusion Research in the past years has shown the positive impacts of technology. Though authors have been criticized for advocating for the use of technology in learning, it is more probable teachers and students will be able to use digital technologies in a more effective and interactive manner. Works Cited Price, Sara and Martin Oliver. "A Framework for Conceptualising the Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning." Educational Technology & Society, 10. 1 (2007): 16-27. Print Steven, Higginss, Xiao ZhiMin and Katsipataki Maria. "The Impact of Digital Technology on Learning: A Summary for the Education Endowment Foundation." School of Education, Durham University 8.2 (2012): 1-52. Print Tendero, Antonio. "Facing versions of the self: The effects of digital storytelling on English education." Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 6.2 (2006): 174-194. Print Read More