Digital media has ingrained itself deeply into every aspect of our lives. The field of education, of course, is one of the main users of digital media. Bit by bit, educational strategies are moving away from papers, pens, and printed books and towards computers and electronic libraries. However, as we embrace progress, we must be aware of the benefits and downsides of the extensive use of digital media in our search for knowledge.
To write reports just a few decades ago, students had to go to a library and write them by hand, which took a lot of time. Centuries ago, the education level was even lower due to a lack of educational materials and the high cost of printing. Access to information was much less available back then; even libraries were rare. High education was reserved for the wealthy, while the rest remained ignorant.
Today, the World Wide Web and computers see extensive use. Many libraries have been digitalized in order to grant wider access. Video-chat programs are being utilized to provide an online learning experience, while translation programs allow us to better understand foreign languages. News and information spread quickly, meaning that readers can be sure that sources are up to date.
There are numerous positive aspects to the implementation of digital media in modern education. Digital media provides quick, easy, and—most importantly—free ways of finding information and educational materials, speeding up the research process and greatly increasing accessibility for students. Social networks establish a different level of connection between teachers and students, and video calls allow teachers to conduct lessons from thousands of miles away.
However, digital media has negative aspects too. Some sources of information are questionable at best, and the information itself is prone to manipulation. The effective use of digital media requires a certain set of skills that some individuals have never learned. Lastly, the use of digital media for education implies the possession of some kind of computer.
As a developed country, the United States has seen an extensive implementation of digital media in educational processes. Virtual or online learning and full-time online schools are becoming more common. Many universities have digital libraries that allow students to access materials from the comfort of their homes. Government programs and funding are being dedicated to raising digital media literacy.
Other countries, such as Russia, are in the process of adapting to the new realities of education. Russia’s system is moving away from the Soviet model, which relied primarily on paper sources of information. However, some remain skeptical of the need for extensive implementation of digital media and media education. Valid concerns include the fact that information found online is often unreliable and easy to manipulate.
China, a rising superpower, acknowledges the necessity of digital media in order to promote education and higher learning. However, the use of digital media in educational processes requires a foundation in media literacy studies. This field started relatively late in China and is currently in the infant stage, with a lot of effort being made toward the digitalization of domestic and foreign literature. Government censorship policies also stand in the way, as they limit the amount of digital media available to use.
The benefits of digital media greatly outweigh the disadvantages, and the widespread use of digital media in educational systems around the world serves as proof of that. With the refinement of the media field and the gradual improvement of information-searching skills among the general populace, digital media will grow to play an even bigger role in modern education than it does now.