Education Communication Technology
Introduction
Definition of Educational Technology
Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT):
The current definition of Educational Technology, as defined by the Definition
and Terminology Committee of the Association for Educational
Communications and Technology (AECT) is “the study and ethical practice of
facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and
managing appropriate technological processes and resources” (Januszewski
& Molenda, 2008, p. 1).
Januszewski & Molenda (2008) further describe each of the major terms in
the above definition as follows:
Study – Is research and reflective practice to examine the appropriate
applications of processes and technologies to the improvement of
learning
Ethical practice – ethics are not merely rules to follow, but the basis
for our practice as educational technologists. We should question our
assumptions and seek to serve the benefit of learners and of society.
Facilitating – the focus in the field has shifted from its early focus on
transferring knowledge from teacher to learner to a focus on facilitating
activities and environments that engage the learner and lead to deep
learning.
Learning – the current conception of learning goes beyond mere
retention of information to encompass “the acquisition of knowledge,
skills, and attitudes used beyond the classroom walls”
Improving – educational technology should provide efficient and cost-
effective ways to bring about the desired learning benefits.
Performance – the “ability to use and apply the new capabilities gained”
Creating – “the research, theory, and practice involved in the
generation of instructional materials, learning environments, and large
teaching learning systems in many different settings” (p. 7).
Using – includes the selection of an appropriate resource as well as its
implementation.
Managing – can include project management and management of
large-scale systems.
Appropriate – suitable for the defined purpose, on information and sound
professional judgement
Technological – processes and resources
Process – “ a series of activities directed towards a specific result”
based
Resources – “people, tools, technologies, and materials designed to
help learners” (Foundations of Educational Technology by Penny
Thompson - licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial 4.0 International License)
Another name for educational technology is instructional technology and encompasses:
Hardware (physical, including physical media3 )
Software (can be physical, e.g. program printouts)
Processes (non-physical)
Procedures (non-physical)
There are a number of different practical and theoretical domains and
disciplines, which educational technology has to deal with. Among those are:
Learning theory
Display surfaces
Non-projected media
Computer-based training (CBT)
Online training
m-learning
Consequently, we can handle educational technology as
• the theory and practice of building and using technological tools and
media that support education,
• the basis for modern student and curriculum management including educational
Management Information Systems,
• as a subject of study and teaching in itself, e.g. in a course like this here.
Educational technology involves:
Learners
instructors
Experiences
Environment
Media of communication
Learning objectives
Learning activities
Evaluation process and all the events that take place in a learning environment
Role of Educational Technology in Teaching
Provide instructor with the most effective means of extending the horizon of
learner’s experience
Enable the instructor to effectively present the content
Enable the learner to receive the intended information
Allow approximation of reality in the formal learning situation e.g. use of picture,
video, film etc.
TERMINOLOGIES
Instruction
Refers to the act or practice of instructing, teaching, or informing
Can also refer to the instruction or knowledge impartation
Or an item of such information or knowledge
In educational technology it refers to the arrangement of information and
environment to facilitate learning
Environment
Environment refers to area of instruction, methods, media and equipment need
Arrangement of environment is crucial depending on the teaching strategy
Teaching
Teaching is defined as ‘that process that facilitates changes in learners and entails
telling and, showing and demonstrating, guiding and directing the learners’ efforts
or a combination of these actions’ (Lefrancois, 1991).
Teaching has also been defined as an art and a science.
Teaching as an art calls for inspiration, intuition, talent, and creativity.
As a science, it requires one to have knowledge and skills on how to teach, how to
select and apply the correct formula for each classroom situation.
Main Components of Teaching
Main Components of Teaching are:
* Stating instructional expected learning outcomes
* Identifying the content to be taught
* Selecting appropriate teaching methods and techniques
* Identifying suitable instructional resources
* Actual presentation of lesson/content
* Evaluating students to determine the extent objectives have been met
* Getting feedback
Principles of Teaching
Respect for each student
Concern for learners’ experience and activity
Helping the learner to see purpose, value and point of what they are doing
Helping and encouraging learners to explore, think and learn in their own way
Assisting and encouraging learners to share their experience
Realizing that teaching should proceed in an educationally logical order
Evaluating learning from time to time to determine the learner progress
The Role of the Teacher
An instructional expert
Motivator
Manager
Leader
Counsellor
Model
Reflective professional
Communicator
Humane
Curriculum developer and implementer
Learning
Learning is defined as permanent change in behaviour, cognition, or affect that
occurs as a result of one’s interaction with the environment.
First, the focus of learning is change either by acquiring something new (like skill)
or modifying something that already exists (improving accuracy)
Second, the change must be long lasting
Third, the focus of learning can include behaviour, affect, or cognitions, or all three
Factors that affect learning
Intelligent of learner
The subject matter or nature of what is learned
The significance placed by the learner on what is learned
The environment around which learning is taking place
For efficient learning to take place, there must be:
Clear expected outcomes of the learning process
Readiness to learn in terms of intellectual, physical, emotional maturation
Communication methods appropriate to the age of learner
Careful guidance throughout the learning process
Preliminary recall of all previously acquired knowledge relevant to the new
materials
Attention and concentration on learner part
Strong motivation to learn
Active involvement of learner in the learning process
Feed-back to learner on learning progress
