The benefits of technology for student behavior

Last Updated: 21/12/2023

We often discuss the positive impact EduTech is having on students’ performance, but does it influence their attitude and their behavior? Can embracing technology help teachers identify and correct behavioral issues in their students? Can it help students who have been struggling with motivation? Let’s see the benefits of technology for students.

Behavioral issues in school

One of the main issues teachers have with allowing technology into the classroom is the higher risk of cheating during tests and assignments, as students can easily open and hide web browsers to check the correct answers. This issue is so common that companies are finding new ways to address it. Products like the new Acer Chromebook Tab 10, for example, will allow teachers to activate a “lock mode” to lock students’ screens. Screen locks are also very effective in keeping students productive and preventing them from using technology as a distraction.

Even students with ADHD have a variety of apps and tools available to make sure they remain focused on their task, such as ClassDojo, an app that helps students track their productivity allowing teachers to monitor whether they stay on task.

Integrating technology in the classroom can also help in reporting on students’ disciplinary issues such as tardiness and negative behavior. Strong evidence shows how students gain a stronger sense of control by tracking their behavior and have an easier time recognizing when they fall into negative patterns.

The greatest advantage of EduTech in schools is the unique ways it engages and motivates students, especially with gamification.

It is essential that teachers understand the importance of bringing gamification into their classroom, especially when dealing with younger and more easily distracted students.

Allowing children to participate in an active way automatically reduces behavioral issues in class, allowing teachers to dedicate more time and focus to the subject.

Behavioral issues at home

Thanks to EduTech, teachers today have the option to monitor their students’ homework and check on their progress even after school hours, but despite these advantages, their reach remains limited.

This is why parents can and should have a role in their children’s education.

Parents need to make an effort to be aware of what happens at school, to be involved in their children’s goals, and to understand the struggles or limitations they may have. Family support is crucial in a student’s life, which is why many teachers use EduTech to interact with parents.

Tools like ClassTag, ParentSquare, and School Messenger all exist to make communication between parents and teachers easier as well as to make it easier for parents to become engaged in their children’s schoolwork.

With technology having such a central role in education, it is also important that parents are up-to-date and aware of how their children are using technology. By understanding EduTech they will be able to help their children with homework as well as to protect them from the risks of being a minor on the internet.

It will also become easier for parents to understand when their children are using technology in a productive way and when it becomes a distraction.

Luckily the vast majority of parents have a positive attitude towards EduTech, with 87% of them believing it has the potential to impact their children’s education in a positive way.

In conclusion

The benefits of education technology fos students’ attitudes and overall behavior are many, but as always it is important to remember that technology is only a tool and everything depends on how it is being used. Passionate teachers who understand how to use new technologies and parents who are willing to engage with EduTech can really make a difference when it comes to a child’s relationship with schoolwork.