Advantages and disadvantages of digital education

Abstract

The digitization of education in Poland is spreading into more and more areas. Therefore, it becomes necessary to analyse all its aspects, both advantages and disadvantages. In the performed reflection, an attempt to present the current state of the access to computers, the Internet and e-course books in Polish schools has been made. On the basis of the secondary analysis of various recent studies as well as own research performed, it has been determined that the level of digitization of education in Poland is still not satisfactorily high. At the same time the author points to the announcement of its dynamic development within the next several years. Advantages and disadvantages of the use of Information and Communication Technology, in particular e-course books, in the education of children and young people were the axis for the reflection undertaken. Many arguments in favour of teaching based on modern methods and techniques have been presented; however, at the same time, a number of risks which this technology carries have been identified. It is hard to clearly be ‘in favour’ or ‘against’ this type of proposals. However, it seems that digital education will become a common reality in the next several years. Therefore, it is necessary to develop it so that it could bring the most benefits with the minimum of side effects. Only practice will probably show whether such a solution is possible.