Meaning of Educational Technology
“Technology is
more than hardware. Technology consists of the designs and the environment that
engage learners”. - D Jonassen
Focus for
Questions:
What is
educational technology?
How does
educational technology differ from technology in education?
How do
educational technology, instructional technology and technology integration,
educational media related to one another?
INTRODUCTION
The organization
of this course on Educational Technology 1 is based on the broad meaning of educational technology. That’s why we
start this course with the comprehensive
understanding of the term educational
technology.
ACTIVITY
Brainstorming
In two minutes,
write down anything that comes to mind when you hear the phrase educational technology.
(teacher writes them on the board.)
Read what you
wrote.
ANALYSIS
Questions for
Discussion
-of the words
written on the board, what is most common?
-are there words
that are related? If yes, how are they related?
-what conclusion
can you draw on what most people think educational technology is?
-is this common
concept on educational technology adequate? Defend your answer.
ABSTRACTION
Meaning of Educational Technology
To understand the meaning of
educational technology, it may be good to begin with the meaning of technology.
The word “technology” comes from the Greek word techne which means craft of art .
Based on the etymology of the word “technology”, the term educational
technology therefore refers to the art or craft of responding to our educational
needs.
Many people think that
technology refers only to machines such
as computers, tv, videos, and the like. All these form part of technology but technology is all these and more! Technology
is not just machines. It is a “planned, systematic method of working to
achieve planned outcomes – a process not
a product. Technology is the applied
side of scientific development .”(Dale,1969)Technology also refers to any valid and reliable process
or procedure that is derived from basic
research using the scientific method.”(http://en.wikipedia.org?wiki/Educational_technology#Perspectives_and_meaning).
Technology refers to “all the ways people use their inventions and discoveries
to satisfy their, needs and desires. ” (The
World Book Encyclopedia, Vol 19) So, educational technology refers to how
people use their inventions and discoveries to satisfy their educational needs
and desires, i.e. learning.
Educational technology is “a
complex, integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and
organization for analyzing problems and devising, implementing, evaluating, and
managing solutions to those problems, involved in all aspects of human learning”.
(Association for Educational Communications and
Technology, 1977. The definitions of educational technology: A summary,
In the definition of educational technology, 1-6, Washington D.C.: AECT.)
Educational technology “consists
of the designs and environment s that engage learners… and reliable technique
or method for engaging learning such as cognitive learning strategies and
critical thinking skills.” (David H. Jonassen, et al 1999.)
Educational technology is a
theory about how problems in human learning are identified and solved. (David
H. Jonassen, Kyle L. Peck, Brent G. Wilson, 1999). As a theory, educational
technology has an “integrated set of principles that explain and predict
observed events.”
Educational technology is a
field involved in applying a complex, integrated process to analyzed and solved
problems in human learning. (David H. Jonassen, et al 1999).
Educational technology is a
field study which is concerned with the practice of using educational methods
and resources for the ultimate goal of facilitating the learning process.
(Lucido and Borabo, 1977). As a field, it operates within the total field of
education.
Educational technology is a
profession like teaching. It is made up of organized effort to implement the
theory, intellectual, technique, and practical application of educational
technology. (David H. Jonassen, et al 1999).
From the definitions of educational
technology given above, we can say that educational technology is a very broad
term. It is the application of scientific findings in our method, process or
procedure of working in the field of education in order to effect learning. It
embraces curriculum and instructional design, learning environment, theories of
teaching-learning. It is also a field study and a profession. It is the use of
all human inventions for teachers to realize their mission to teach in order
that students learn.
There
are other terms that are associated with educational technology. We come across
terms like technology in education, instructional technology and technology
integration in education books, educational media. Are they synonymous with
educational technology?
Technology
in education is “ the application of technology to any of those processes
involved in operating the institutions which house the educational enterprise.
It includes the application of technology to food, health, finance, scheduling,
grade, reporting, and other processes with the support education within institutions.” (David H.
Jonassen, et al ,1999).
Instructional
technology is a part of educational technology. Instructional technology refers
to those aspects of educational technology
that “are concerned with instruction as contrasted to designs and
operations of educational institutions.
Instructional technology is a
systematic way of designing, carrying
out, and evaluating the total process of learning and teaching in terms of
specific objectives.” (Lucido and Borabo, 1997).
Technology
integration means using “learning technologies to introduce, reinforce,
supplement and extend skills,” (Williams, ed. 2000). Like instructional
technology, it is part of educational technology. Technology integration is
part and parcel of instructional technology, which in turn is a part of
educational technology.
Educational
media are channels or avenues or instruments of communication. Examples are
books, magazines, newspapers, radio, television and internet. These media also
serve educational purposes.
Which
of the terms above are very much related
to educational technology? Which one is least related?
