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Promoting Science and Technology in schools

Nov 1, 2010, 11:12 AM

The combination of technology in education is no longer a "new" idea, since technology has become such an integral part of society.

It is necessary to integrate the use of technology in education in a variety of ways. The use of computer technology, for instance, has moved beyond computer-assisted instruction in the form of tutorials or drill and practice.

Today's technology can provide teachers and students with opportunities for teaching and learning that were impossible in the past. Computers can be used as devices for communicating with people literally a world apart. They can be used as tools to create instructional materials or as presentation devices to provide information in ways never before possible.

Using several types of technology in one lesson can help all students to understand initially and can alleviate many of the questions that students will have later, as well as lessen the times a teacher must repeat concepts to those who did not comprehend them the first time.

The promotion of science and technology in schools will greatly help the world to move faster, because if people are well-equipped with the required knowledge life will become easy for everybody, and this can make a great impact on the economy of individual countries.

It is now high time for the developing countries to start thinking of how to promote science and technology in their respective countries, and governments should allocate enough resources in this area so that the laboratories of schools and universities will be adequately equipped, which can make research work for students easy.

If science and technology is given the due attention it deserves, Africa will become a heaven, and the issue of brain drain will be a thing of the past.

Most of the time, the reason our scientists are leaving the continent for other parts of the world for greener pasture is due to low motivation. Such a move would also contribute to the limited transfer of knowledge.

The proposed establishment of a Science Park in the country, when completed, would boost the attainment of our national Vision 2010.

In this age of technology, we cannot afford to lag behind in utilising the many benefits embedded in science and technology.

"Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge."
Carl Sagan