Module 1: The Meaning of Educational Technology

Prerequisite Skills:

Instructor:
Aurelio F. Polonio

Level:
Second Year College

Allotted Time:

Overview

The organization of this course is based on the broad meaning of educational technology. Thats
why this module will focus on the comprehensive understanding of the term educational
technology
.
Objectives

1. Define educational technology

2. Differentiate educational technology from technology in education
3. Identify the relationship among educational technology, instructional technology and technology
integration, and educational media.
Pretest

Brainstorming:

In two minutes, write down anything that comes to mind when you hear the phrase EDUCATIONAL
TECHNOLOGY (ideas will be written on the board)
Read what you wrote

Analysis:

Of the words written on the board, what is most common?

Are there words that are related? If yes, how are they related?
What conclusion can you draw on what most people think educational technology is?
Is this common concept on educational technology adequate? Defend your answer.

Learning Focus : Additional Learning focus on ppt

a. Using Technology to Enhance Student Learning.ppt

b. History of Educational Technology: Where Are We Going & Where Have We
Been.ppt
Meaning of Educational Technology
To understand the meaning of educational technology, it may be good to begin with the meaning of technology.
The word "technology" comes from the Greek word techne which means craft or art. Based on the etymology of die
word "technology", die term educational technology, therefore, refers to the art or craft of responding to our
educational heeds.
Many people think that technology refers only to machines such as computers, tv, videos, and the like. All
these form part of technology but educational technology is all these and more! Technology is not just machines. It is
a "planned, systematic method of working to achieve planned outcomes - a process not a product. Technology is the
applied side of scientific development."(Dale, 1969) Technology also refers to any valid and reliable process or
procedure that is derived from basic research using the scientific method."(http://en.wikipedia.org?wiki/Educational_
technology#Perspectives_and_meaning) Technology refers to "all the ways people use their inventions and
discoveries to satisfy their needs and desires."(The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol 19) So, educational technology
refers to how people use .their inventions and discoveries to satisfy their educational needs and desires, i.e. learning.
Educational technology is "a complex, integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and
organization for analyzing problems and devising, implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those
problems, involved in all aspects of human learning." (Association for Educational Communications and Technology,
1977. The definition of educational technology: A summary, In the definition of educational technology, 1-16,
Washington DC.: AECT.)

Educational technology "consists of the designs and environments that engage learners ... and reliable
technique or method for engaging learning such as cognitive learning strategies and critical thinking skills." (David H
Jonassen, et al 1999.)
Educational technology is a theory about how problems in human learning are identified and solved. (David
H. Jonassen, Kyle L. Peck, Brent G Wilson, 1999). As a theory, educational technology has an "integrated set of
principles that explain and predict observed events."
Educational technology is a field involved in applying a complex, integrated process to analyze and solve
problems in human learning (David H Jonassen, et al 1999)
Educational technology is a field study which is concerned with the practice of using educational methods and
resources for the ultimate goal of facilitating the learning process. (Lucido and Borabo, 1997). As a field, it operates
within the total field of education.
Educational technology is a profession like teaching It is made up of organized effort to implement the theory,
intellectual technique, and practical application of educational technology. (David H. Jonassen, et al 1999).
From the definitions of educational technology given above, we can say that educational technology is a
very broad term. It is the application of scientific findings in our method, process or procedure of working in the field
of education in order to effect learning. It embraces curriculum and instructional design, learning environment,
theories of teaching-learning. It i's also a field study and a profession. It is the use of all human inventions for
teachers to realize their mission to teach in order that students learn.
There are other terms that are associated with educational technology. We come across terms like technology
in education, instructional technology and technology integration in education books, educational media. Are they
synonymous with educational technology?
Technology in education is "the application of technology to any of those processes involved in operating the
institutions which house the educational enterprise. It includes the application of technology to food, health, finance,
scheduling, grade, reporting, and other processes which support education within institutions." (David H. Jonassen,
et al, 1999).
Instructional technology is a part of educational technology. Instructional technology refers to those aspects of
educational technology that "are concerned with instruction as contrasted to designs and operations of educational
institutions. Instructional technology is a systematic way of designing, carrying out, and evaluating the total process
of learning and teaching in terms of specific objectives." (Lucido and Borabo, 1997),
Technology integration means using "learning technologies to introduce reinforce, supplement and extend
skills." (Williams, ed. 2000). Like instructional technology, it is a part of educational technology. Technology
integration is part and parcel of instructional technology, which in turn is a part of educational technology.
Educational media are channels or avenues or instruments of communication. Examples are books,
magazines, newspapers, radio, television and Internet. These media also serve educational purposes.
Which of the terms above are very much related to educational technology? Which one is least related?
Educational technology is a broad term. Often times, however, it is given a narrow meaning, to mean just
hardware. It refers to the use of all human inventions and discoveries to satisfy our educational need and desire, i.e.,
learning. These inventions and discoveries can be devices, tools, equipment, activities, procedures and processes.
Included among these human inventions are the various educational media. Educational technology is more than

instructional technology in the same way that education is more than instruction. Technology integration is part of
instructional technology which, in turn, is part of educational technology. Educational technology is different from
technology in education. The latter refers to the application of technology in the operation of education institutions
while the former refers to the application of technology in the educative process that takes place in such education
institutions.
Educational Technology is Hardware and More!
We sometimes think that educational technology is limited to tools and equipment. We were made to
understand that educational technology is more than material for it also includes processes, procedures and
activities, instructional and curricular designs, learning environment and systems. Likewise, we think that educational
technology includes only the recent human inventions like video, computer, CD-ROM and INTERNET as though the
traditional tools like the chalkboard that teachers have been using for all the years are not part. The chalkboard, no
matter how old, is also a human invention and so definitely forms part of educational technology. In fact, even today
every classroom has a chalkboard. The chalkboard remains to be popular equipment in the classroom.

Learning Activities

Activity 1: Work in small groups. Explain what

educational technology is by using this graphic
organizer.

Activity 2: Using the three concentric circles given

below, show that educational technology and
instructional technology are much broader than
educational media and technology integration.
Activity 3: Differentiate education technology from
technology in education by the help of these
arrows. The direction of the arrows suggests that they
differ.

Activity 4: Accomplish this Learning Bank

Deposit/s
(What I learned)

Dividend/s
(How I use what I learned in my life)

Posttest

1. Recall your course on Principles of Teaching. Was educational technology or instructional technology ever
mentioned? If not, were there terms that you learned in that course that are related to educational
technology?