Full Answer Section

brought the abstract concepts to life. The immediate feedback from the simulation allowed us to form hypotheses, test them, and see the consequences, which solidified our understanding in a way that passive reading or lectures never could. This experience turned a challenging topic into an engaging and intuitive one.

Technology Detracting from Learning: Over-reliance on Presentation Software

As a teacher, I observed a situation where technology, specifically presentation software like PowerPoint, detracted from learning. The course was a high-level seminar focused on critical discussion and debate. However, a significant portion of the class time was dominated by students presenting their research using meticulously crafted slides with bullet points and graphics. Instead of facilitating genuine discussion, the presentations became a performance, and the focus shifted from critical engagement with the material to the aesthetics and structure of the slides. Students would often read directly from their slides, and the Q&A sessions were short and perfunctory. The technology, which was meant to be a tool for communication, created a barrier to authentic intellectual exchange, reducing a dynamic seminar into a series of monologues. The over-reliance on the software stifled the spontaneity and deep inquiry that the seminar was designed to foster.