Technology as a tool to enhance motivation and learning

Abstract

Nowadays, being a teacher is a matter of being focused on learning rather than teaching in a classical point of view. With so much and so good information available and easily accessible, the figure of the "self made man" can even lose meaning once it is easier to learn outside school. School as institution must be equated as a space to promote learning and motivation to learn which is often absent. In order to respond to the necessary shift paradigm school faces resulting from a different way of life in a very recent past, the use of technology proves to be a powerful ally, ensuring student's ability to respond to technical and scientific questions as well as creating an environment of trust and security since, for example the mobile phone, is a tool of permanent use in the student’s life. Even “the extent of change caused by recent and unexpected events like Brexit (Britain's departure from the European Union) will be insignificant compared to the impact of an avalanche of technological change that can reshape the very essence of humanity and life in the our planet” (Leonhard, 2017). And if, as Leonhard (2017) says, the mega changes we are confronted with will re-draw trade, culture and society, biology and ethics, what shall we say about school still working in a model created in the nineteenth century? And considering that we are at a critical turning point in technological evolution and where change seems irreversible, what new challenges does the teacher also face in this field? The aim of this work is to think about how technologies can have or not a role on motivation to learning and academic success. As teachers, we defend we must adjust methodology so it can serve learning. Same methods and technics may prove to be excellent or lousy according to multiple and various factors. We often think we have the best class ever prepared, able to impress all students and this just does not happen. Why? What mechanisms can make an activity be remarkable and impactful?The methodology used in the classes is diversified and according to the goal, participative techniques of active learning, simply active listening, informal dialogue, apps or a quick research on google, in all of them technologies are welcome. Even so, sometimes it seems to not be enough. Results from different sorts of conversation with students (interview, focus group and small questionnaire) shows the mobile phone is the most requested in class and even for research, it is preferred in deterring the computer. Technology (eg some apps for identification of wildlife species) can also make no sense to the student if the contents are not pleasant for students but in general, answers show us that technology helps students to feel confident since it doesn’t expose individual (un)knowledge, to learn with pleasure, to create group dynamics and in general, to create happy moments that increase motivation and improve learning and knowledge.Our lessons learned tell us that today students lack meaning, they need to give meaning to their existences. And of course, technology can be exploited for this, not just in a content-oriented sence but existential sense, without the two together, everything will remain inadequate.