From Angel to Skype: Technology important for students at Avila University

Technology growth in the world today is one of the most important parts of humanity. Technology is part of nearly every aspect of life for the majority of people living in the world. There are countless avenues that technology can be found in. Everything from medicine to entertainment and food production all use components of technology. As for education, technology is as important a factor in learning if not the most important factor. Not only because technology teaches students, but because students today utilize technology in everyday learning and social activities.

For students at Avila University technology is very important. A major example is the Angel program developed by Avila. The Angel program allows Instructors to post homework assignments, learning utensils, and final grades that individual students may view in personal accounts. It also serves as a contact point similar to email that students may communicate with fellow students and teachers. This aids in the speed at which students can turn in assignments, and it allows the teachers to focus on class time and place further information for students to view later. This makes learning more efficient. Avila also has its own internet domain which students can access using personal account numbers. Students may do things on the domain such as, sign up for classes, access numerous educational databases, and even deal with financial issues pertaining to enrollment or financial aid.

Socially, technology for students at Avila University may be used more in communication than actual person to person communication. Students are using cell phones to text message each other as well as teachers to keep up on current events or events pertaining to the University. There are also social websites such as Facebook, and Myspace which students personalize their pages with photos and information about themselves. These social websites allow students to join social networks such as Avila Students on Facebook so that they may keep in touch with Avila friends or meet new Avila students during breaks and even after graduation.

Other forms of technology may be found in all aspects of student life. An example would be entertainment through TV or internet. Students at Avila spend lots of time on computers, watching television, or playing video games. Sometimes there are postings for video game competitions being held in the dorms. Students are also using a program known as Skype which is a communication network that gives basic communication abilities between students and even their families. For foreign students, Skype is a cheap way to contact family and friends directly from the school who are an expensive phone call away.

Overall, the use of technology in the life of a student such as Avila students can be viewed as one of the most important components of student life. It would be hard to think of how many things students would not be able to do without technology. The use of technology aids in the efficiency of life, therefore giving the student the ability to handle their business in a more successful manner.

Interviews:

1. Khalid Abdulqaadir, second year Avila student.

How do you feel technology affects your life as a student in Avila?

Well if I didn’t have technology I wouldn’t know you because you are from Taiwan and you wouldn’t have come here on a plane or something.

2. Brandon Cates, first year Avila student.

How do you think students would be affected if technology didn’t exist at Avila?

That would change everything because we wouldn’t have internet or cell phones or cars. I guess it would be ok because it was like that in the old days but if we went from technology to no technology I think most kids couldn’t function as a student.