Educational Technology in Context:

1
Chapter 1

• Educational Technology in Context
• The Big Picture

2
Agenda/Topics to Be Covered

• Definitions of key educational technology terms
  and how they originated
• A brief history of computer technology in
  education and what we have learned from it
• Justification for technology purchases
• An overview of current technology trends
• Issues that shape technology's current and future
  role in restructuring education

3
Educational Technology vs. Instructional
Technology

• Educational Technology vs. Instructional
  Technology
• Where did it come from?
• Educational Technology (1948, W.W. Charters)
• Instructional Technology (1963, Finn)
• Focus on the process not the product (Saettler)

4
Evolving Definition

• Educational technology is a combination of the
  processes and tools involved in addressing
  educational needs and problems, with an emphasis
  on applying the most current tools computers and
  their related technologies

5
Four Perspectives That Shaped Educational
Technology

• Media and AV communications (1930s)
• Instructional systems (1960-70s)
• Vocational training (1980s)
• Computer systems (1960s)

6
Milestones and Trends

• 1950- flight simulator
• 1960-first classroom computer IBM 650
• 1977- first micro-computer in schools
• 1980s- courseware development (digital divide)
• 1990s- network systems
• 1994- widespread use of the Internet begins
• 2000- virtual classrooms

7
What Have We Learned?

• What can I do with existing resources?
• Courseware development companies
• Ever-changing technology
• High-tech vs. high touch

8
Why Use Technology?

• Because it is there
• We live in Silicon Valley
• Everyone is using it
• Preparation (student or teacher)

9
Rationale for Using Technology

• Motivation
• Unique instructional capabilities
• Support for new instructional approaches
• Increased teacher productivity
• Required skills for an information age

10
Motivation

• Gaining learners attention
• Engaging the learner through production work
• Increasing perceptions of control

11
Unique Instructional Capabilities

• Linking learners to information sources
• Helping learners visualize problems and solutions
• Tracking learner progress
• Linking learners to learning tools

12
Support for New instructional Approaches

• Cooperative learning
• Shared intelligence
• Problem-solving and higher-level skills

13
Increased Teacher Productivity

• Freeing time to work with students
• Provide faster and accurate information
• Develop better materials faster

14
Required skills for an Information Age

• Technology literacy
• Information literacy
• Visual literacy

15
Systems and Applications

• Equipment type (standalone/network)
• Configuration (lab/workstation/portable/desktop)
• Applications (instruction/production/administrativ
  e)

16
Issues in Education and Technology

• Societal (pro vs anti)
• Cultural and equity (economic and
  ethnic/gender/special needs)
• Educational issues (directed vs. constructivist/
  breadth vs. depth/ )

17
Technical Issues

• Rapid change
• Complexity