Technology in modern education

Ferris Bueller had it right: life moves pretty fast!

And nowhere is that sentiment more accurate than in the world of technology.

While the wise-cracking truant might have been blown away by the processing power of a 1980s Sinclair ZX80, here in 2025, the capabilities of modern digital tools are almost the stuff of science fiction.

With artificial intelligence tools in classrooms, cloud-native learning platforms, and always-connected devices in every pocket, the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education has never been more vital.

For students setting out on their educational journey, ICT can be a fundamental component of the learning experience. With the effective use of technology in classrooms, allied with more conventional teaching processes, there’s no limit to the positive development of a young mind – whether that’s in the guise of academic achievement and improved learning outcomes, enhanced creative thinking, or the development of skills that will prove vital in later life.

Let’s take a look at how ICT continues to shape modern education.

Children using computers at a desk in a bright classroom setting.

1. Enhances interaction and increases student engagement

Technology helps bring subjects to life in new and memorable ways

When integrated effectively into a classroom environment, there’s no question that technology can increase student engagement and encourage interaction. Put simply, teachers are able to present long-established ideas in new and innovative ways. Students are much more likely to engage with the history of Ancient Egypt, for example, if they can take a virtual field trip to Luxor or have access to interactive online resources on Xerxes the Great.

This is a generation that is entirely comfortable navigating smart technology, as they use it frequently in their day-to-day lives. With platforms like Minecraft Education, virtual reality (VR), and real-time simulations, even abstract concepts can be explored through meaningful experiences. Technology becomes a familiar language that helps pupils engage with lessons on their terms.

2. Learning is accessible any time, any place

Students can now learn beyond the classroom walls

The uber-connectivity of smart devices and the emergence of cloud technology mean that students have access to their educational ICT tools wherever and whenever they like. Academic development doesn’t have to stop in the classroom and collaborative projects can be worked on in real-time through applications and virtual student dashboards.

There’s also a multitude of cloud-based educational apps available for students to better utilise their downtime. By striking the perfect balance between fun and learning, students can experience the enjoyment of using a tablet or mobile device while simultaneously developing and mastering new skills. With ICT and a stable internet connection, there’s no limit or restriction on a child’s capacity to learn.

3. Offers new learning techniques as classroom tools are constantly evolving

Digital learning is constantly improving for both teachers and students

Technology is never one to stand still; it’s in a constant state of advancement and evolution. AI-assisted platforms are now embedded into digital whiteboards and classroom software, helping teachers deliver smarter, more responsive lessons.

Major players like Google, Apple and Microsoft are building ecosystems specifically for education. From Google’s LearnLM (a large language model trained for learning) to Microsoft Copilot in Teams for Education, classrooms now benefit from AI features that support everything from lesson planning to real-time feedback.

And while the pace of change can feel fast, it also offers exciting opportunities for schools to refine teaching approaches and keep content fresh and relevant.

Students in school uniforms working on computers in a classroom setting.

4. Decreases teacher paperwork, improving work-life balance

Digital tools support better planning and easier assessment

With the sheer abundance of online resources available to teachers, no longer are their lesson plans bound exclusively to reams of paperwork and printed handouts. Technology has streamlined everything from marking to lesson planning.

Tools like ClassNotebook make it easier for teachers to plan, deliver and review content, all while reducing the workload that leads to burnout. Online marking platforms, automated quiz generators, and integrated curriculum planning software all give teachers back valuable time – time that can be spent directly supporting pupils or improving subject knowledge.

5. Improves parent-teacher interaction

Technology makes it easier to stay connected and involved

It’s not just teachers and students who can benefit from the integration of technology into the education system. Parents, too, can establish healthy contact with teachers, thanks to a range of smart parent-teacher interaction apps. Platforms like ClassDojo allow for regular updates, direct messaging, and even video calls when needed.

Rather than waiting for the next parents’ evening, families can access real-time data on attendance, grades, and behaviour. This level of communication supports more consistent home-school alignment and enables earlier intervention when students need extra help.

6. Improves and enhances peer support and collaboration between students

ICT enables teamwork in and beyond the classroom

ICT encourages collaboration amongst students and facilitates them working collectively. Students can hone their powers of teamwork by immersing themselves in various online activities. Projects can be worked on conjointly using forums or by exchanging documents in their virtual learning environments. The global reach of the internet means that this kind of collaboration doesn't need to be confined to one classroom. Students can just as easily interact and cooperate with a child sitting next to them, as they can with one on the other side of the world!

With tools like Microsoft Teams and Google Jamboard, students can build ideas together from any location. This also prepares them for future teamwork in digital workplaces, where collaboration is often remote and asynchronous.

7. Enables teachers to differentiate their teaching

Teachers can tailor content to suit different learning styles

ICT ensures that educators are given the tools to focus specific resources and delivery systems to suit individual learning levels and styles. No longer are students constrained to the finite pages of a book, but are allowed to soar into an almost infinite learning arena, expanding knowledge and creativity.

Physical technology, virtual and augmented worlds allow students to explore near-real experiences, allowing the teacher to enhance existing concepts and resources. These technologies are forever being updated and expanded upon, meaning lessons should never feel stale or outmoded.

Adaptive learning software such as Sparx Maths uses AI to assess pupil progress and offer targeted next steps, while augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality tools allow for multi-sensory experiences that support a wider range of learners. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners can all benefit from a more flexible and tailored learning experience that traditional methods can’t easily offer.

Students focused at computers in a classroom setting.

8. Teaches new life skills and prepares pupils for future workplaces

ICT helps students develop real-world capabilities

Students can learn valuable life skills through exposure to ICT; skills that they might not learn in a traditional learning environment, and ones that will become invaluable to them in later life. Digital collaboration, productivity, leadership, communication, presentation and research skills using tools such as Microsoft Search Coach. All highly-coveted talents for the modern employer.

As digital tools become an increasingly common feature in the workplace, a student who is fluent in their use will stand a much better chance of securing employment in the digital landscape than someone who isn’t. Technological advances move at breakneck speed, and students who can synchronise and adapt with this constant evolution are more likely to find success in their future workplace.

9. Allows students to learn at their own pace and encourages individual learning styles

Pupils can control their own progress

No two students are the same; their abilities and learning speeds can vary dramatically, which can present challenges to educators in a traditional analogue classroom setting. Technology in education enables children to adjust to their own pace of learning. Students who require more time to grasp subjects and ideas are given full licence to do so, while students needing less support can advance ahead. This, in turn, creates a more efficient process for teachers and allows them to devote more individual one-on-one time for children who might need additional support.

Students who need extra time can revisit content, complete practice exercises, or watch explanation videos through platforms like Seneca Learning or YouTube EDU. At the same time, higher-achieving pupils can stretch themselves with extension activities and wider research. This helps teachers manage mixed-ability classrooms more effectively and supports individual student growth.

10. Increases access and inclusion for SEND students

Technology can support a wider range of learning needs

There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that technology can assist children in overcoming their communication and physical difficulties in the classroom. Interactive computer-based systems allow teachers to customise lesson plans to include those with learning difficulties. These processes can be tailored specifically to fit the individual child’s needs, interests, and particular learning styles.

Importantly, students who might otherwise have been excluded from the learning experience through traditional methods can flourish thanks to a healthy combination of teaching support and ICT. Educators can use technology to meet these challenges and deliver the same lesson in different ways.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), technology can offer tailored support that boosts confidence and helps remove learning barriers. Assistive technologies such as speech-to-text software, screen readers and sensory-friendly apps allow students to engage with content in ways that work for them.

Platforms like Immersive Reader are now widely used in classrooms to support students with dyslexia, autism, or processing difficulties. Digital tools make it easier to adapt learning without singling out students – and help create a more inclusive environment for everyone.