Aspects of educational technology
Educational technology is a tool that enables the facilitating of learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources. Through years technology had been an aid of instruction since 1920 until this time being. It had evolved to be one of the essential in the learning process as it makes it effective, efficient and much easier.
About the educational technology and it’s integration in classroom instruction, it was said in the video by the technology coach that learning is primary and using technology is secondary, in another words; it is necessary to have vision of the role of educational technology use, as it is nothing but a help or additional resources that serves to facilitates learning and it is not the main option or the only one but it only helps. In the video the teacher stated that “Technology does not involve students, great lessons does” and here come the role of vision which has to be understood by almost everyone including teachers, students , administration and curriculum developers. After having a clear vision of what is technology and what it is used for and when it should be used, it is necessary to make a link between two departments when it come to the Framework of educational technology; first comes the instructional curriculum which states what should be taught and what should not, then comes technology or the different resources a teacher can have access to in order to facilitates teaching the curriculum. Yet, it is important to note that instructional technology expectations must be driven by instructional experts and that technology serves must go hand in hands with instructional goals in order to reach effectiveness and efficiency in learning and the success of technology implementation. Now the question would be how can we make this vision happen and how this framework support it? Having in mind that learning is an ongoing process that requires different prerequisites to be achieved one may add the importance of integrating technology as a tool that facilitate learning and here we will be talking about strategy which is the third aspect that was mentioned in the video . It had focused mainly on important elements which by technology are easily integrated in education, some of which are the following; First, we can start by having a shared vision which means that teachers and learners and educators have to understand the meaning of technology and should have a clear vision of students need and ways of achieving effective learning. Second, digital resources that is to say to have an access to technology anywhere anytime as well as to offer personalized learning for learners and allow them to self-reflect and learn through using portfolios for goal setting and self tracking. Third, skilled instructional coaches, dedicated collaboration and administrative modeling- administrative expectation. All of which contribute to a better use and implementation of technology in educational setting. |