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EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Educational technology is the use of technology in education to improve learning and teaching. Educational technology is also known as instructional technology or learning technology.

The words educational and technology are often used in a more restrictive sense: educational referring to processes for the imparting of knowledge, skill, and judgement in children; technology referring to high technology, in particular information technology (IT). The particular case of the meaningful use of high-technology to enhance learning in K-12 classrooms and higher education is known as technology integration.

Contents

History

One of the earliest disciplines of educational technology was instructional systems design (ISD). This was used by the United States military during World War II, in order to train large numbers of people more effectively. In a common ISD model, the ADDIE Model, the steps involved are: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation.

Theories and practices

The Encyclopedia of Educational Technology places the theories and practices of educational technology into six categories: cognition and learning, analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation.

Cognition and learning

Cognition and learning is about the mechanisms by which people process information.

See also: Active learning, Information Processing Theory, Andragogy, Bloom's taxonomy, Cooperative learning, E-learning, Habituation, Sleep-learning, Metacognition, Overlearning, Operant conditioning, Situated learning, Observational learning, Zone of proximal development

Analysis

Analysis is the use of processes for gathering basic information needed for the design of a training programme. The results of analysis answer some basic questions: who?, what?, when? and where?

See also: Human Performance Technology

Design

Design is the use of information gained from analysis to create an outline training programme.

See also: Instructional Systems Design, ADDIE Model, Mind map, Distance education, SCORM, Blended learning, Mnemonic, Project-based learning, Information mapping

Development

Development is the building of an outline training programme into a usable training programme.

See also: Assistive technology, Educational animation

Implementation

Implementation is the actual use of a completed training programme. Success relies heavily on the effectiveness of the trainer.

See also: Concept map, Technology Integration

Evaluation

Evaluation is the assessment of the effectiveness of all aspects of training programme development. The results are used to improve the programme.

See also: Computer-adaptive test, Educational evaluation, Rubrics (education), Usability testing

Educational Technology and the Humanities

Research from the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) indicates that inquiry and project-based approaches, combined with a focus on curriculum, effectively supports the infusion of educational technologies into the learning and teaching process. Below are some promising practices and emerging applications specifically related to learning and technology within humanities disciplines:

  • Social Studies - Under Construction -Global Studies and Citizenship
  • English Language Arts - Under Construction - Changing Space of Text and Reading

Societies and journals

Learned societies concerned with educational technology include:

Journals on the subject of educational technology include:

See also

References

Further reading

Look up Educational technology in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
  • Soni, S K (2004). An Information Resource on Educational Technology for:Technical & Vocational Education and TRaining (TVET). Sarup & Sons Publishers,Location- New Delhi, e-mail <sarupandsonsin@hotmail.com. ISBN 81-7625-506-8.
  • Education Technology for TVET, a comprehensive blog for education technology for professional higher education, published by Prof. SK Soni, Bhopal, India