Innovative Technology in Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges

ABSTRACT

The rapid rate of technological progress has been a critical aspect of Human History since the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Information Technology has enabled a large amount of flow of Information, ideas, thoughts, goods, and services across the region in a very short time. Higher education is a field that determines the average productivity of Labour, level of innovation, citizenship, and humane qualities in society. Some thinkers contend that the use of Information Technology is highly harmful while some dream of a technological utopia. The paper puts forward the view that reality is situated between extreme viewpoints. This paper discusses the potential of innovative technology in ensuring vast access to data among students;improving the knowledge of students regarding wise use of the Internet;increasing the interaction between teachers and students through Online Platforms;creating scope for greater flexibility as demanded by New Education Policy;increasing the interest of students through the use of Audio-Visual Technology and facilitating education even in times of Corona Pandemic. The paper also brings to light the challenges and limitations in using innovative technology is like a mirage of data reductionism;the paucity of emotional dividends of education;lack of face-to-face interactions among students and teachers;the probability of data banks becoming so static as to be unable to deal with transformations across disciplines, and prejudice against past achievements. Finally, the paper points out that as machines cannot substitute Humanity, Teaching equipment cannot replace the teacher.