Title:
A Case Study on Educational Technology
Objectives:
1. To
determine whether or not Educational
Technology is acceptable in the present
society/curriculum and developed
countries;
2. To know the different benefits/advantages of
educational technology; and
3. To identify different criticisms/disadvantages
of educational technology.
Areas of Considerations:
Based
on its definition, educational technology is the study and ethical
practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using
and managing appropriate technological processes and resources."[1]
The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and learning theory. Also, educational technology includes other
systems used in the process of developing human capability. Educational
technology includes, but is not limited to, software, hardware, as well as
Internet applications, such as wiki's and blogs, and activities.
In the article, it also
emphasized that Educational Technology is an influential factor in
education. It is being used in developed
countries both to complement established education practices and develop new
ways of learning such as online education like computer s and mobile
phones. This technology also brings about students’ opportunity the option to
choose what they are interested in learning.
Its presence increases programming and blogging. A powerful learning tools that demand new
skills and understanding of students thru multimedia and provides new ways to
engage students in virtual learning environments.
Benefits/Disadvantages
of Educational Technology
Educational
technology is intended to improve education over what it would be without
technology. Some of the claimed benefits are listed below:
1. Easy-to-access
course materials. Instructors can post the course material or important information on a
course website, which means students can study at a time and location they
prefer and can obtain the study material very quickly[2]
2. Student
motivation.
Computer-based instruction can give instant feedback to students and explain
correct answers. Moreover, a computer is patient and non-judgmental, which can
give the student motivation to continue learning.[3]
3. Wide
participation. Learning
material can be used for long distance learning and are accessible to a wider audience[4]
4. Improved
student writing. It is convenient for students to edit their written work on word
processors, which can, in turn, improve the quality of their writing. According
to some studies, the students are better at critiquing and editing written work
that is exchanged over a computer network with students they know[2]
5. Subjects made
easier to learn. Many different types of educational software are designed and developed
to help children or teenagers to learn specific subjects. Examples include
pre-school software, computer simulators, and graphics software[3]
6. A
structure that is more amenable to measurement and improvement of outcomes. With
proper structuring it can become easier to monitor and maintain student
work while also quickly gauging modifications to the instruction necessary
to enhance student learning.
7. Differentiated
Instruction. Educational technology provides the means to focus
on active student participation and to present differentiated questioning
strategies. It broadens individualized instruction and promotes the
development of personalized learning plans. Students are encouraged to use
multimedia components and to incorporate the knowledge they gained in
creative ways.[4]
Disadvantages/Criticisms
of Educational Technology
Although
technology in the classroom does have many benefits, there are clear
drawbacks as well which include the
following:
1.
Similar to learning a new task or
trade, special training is vital to ensuring the effective integration of
classroom technology. Since technology is not the end goal of education, but
rather a means by which it can be accomplished, educators must have a good
grasp of the technology being used and its advantages over more traditional
methods. If there is a lack in either of these areas, technology will be seen
as a hindrance and not a benefit to the goals of teaching.
2.
Another difficulty is introduced when
access to a sufficient quantity of a resource is limited. This is often
seen when the quantity of computers or digital cameras for classroom use is not
enough to meet the needs of an entire classroom. It also occurs in less noticed
forms such as limited access for technology exploration because of the high
cost of technology and the fear of damages.
3.
Technology implementation can also be
time consuming. There may be an initial setup or training time cost inherent in the use
of certain technologies. Even with these tasks accomplished, technology failure
may occur during the activity and as a result teachers must have an alternative
lesson ready
RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSIONS
The diverse
benefits/advantages that can be derived in the use of Educational Technology
are humungous compared to the drawbacks it carries. Therefore,
I highly recommend and conclude that educational technology is pretty
well acceptable in the present society/curriculum
and developed countries as well.
References
1.
^Richey, R.C. (2008). Reflections on the 2008 AECT
Definitions of the Field. TechTrends. 52(1) 24-25
5.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_technology
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