The History of Educational TechnologyOver the past 100 years, education and technology has been continually evolving and developing. As technology plays key role in the field of education and this can be traced in different ways as it facilitates the process of teaching as well as learning. Technology is now used as a pedagogical tool everywhere in the world. It is vital to make a note of the fact that technology in the field of education did not emerge just recently. Rather, it has always been used, and only evolved and was over time. In this report lights will be shed on the evolution educational technology throughout the past 100 years.
Back in 1900 and until 1910, teachers and educators made use of episcope as a demonstration of early film projection, so as to attract students' attention and keep them following . in 1920 and until 1922, the use of motion picture started. It was a major starting point towards a technologically revolutionized era with regards to education. Later In 1923, the Division of Visual Instruction (DVI), has emerged whose fundamental purpose was to include visual instruction movement in teaching, and to make it crucial part in the teacher's instructional materials. This has been of a great help to educators as, teachers no longer presented lessons only through blackboards, but also used technology to help them in the teaching process. Eventually this improved the quality of classroom instruction. In 1930, technology and education had witnessed another decisive shift. As the use of radio had been a crucial point in education. Therefore, university students would even stay home and listen to lectures via radio. In 1940, the U. S. government produced 457 instructional training films and purchased 55,000 film projectors so as to enrich the learning and teaching experiences and improve the quality of education. Later on between 1943 and 1949 there was also a noticeable development of computers, which are, evidently, the most widely used means of technology worldwide. Consequently, learners have become exposed a rich source of information that comes in different shapes and with a variety of options, and this was the beginning of a new era. The beginning of the 21st century witnessed a extreme change in the recourses used in the field of education. Authoring tools such as YouTube and Google for example played an immersive source of information both visual and textual information for students and for teachers alike. In addition, sit webs and other soft ware contributed to this shift as it enabled what we call today E-learning. Through E-learning, Students become able to study at home, distance become no problem and learning can occur whenever, using whatever and they can whichever electronic platform best suits their interests, needs and desires. Universities, schools and language centers also started adapting visual aids, E-books and YouTube videos as primary means of instruction. Clearly, the use of technology in the field of education has come so far and considerably important and crucial over the past 100 years. One may say that education can only be effective and improved through the use of electronic means, I believe that all teachers without any exception should make use of it to help their students achieve learning goals smoothly and effectively as well as improve the quality of teaching. Educational Technology is and still evolving, and surely, we are going to witness more of its impact on many levels including education. |
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