Teaching and Learning with Technology

Theoretical Foundations
Chapter 1

Teaching and Learning with Technology

What is Educational Technology?

Educational technology is any technology
used by educators in support of the teaching
and learning process
Educators study educational technology in
order to have a sound foundation in the
technologies needed to teach
NETS-T standards articulate what teachers
and students should know about technology
Teaching and Learning with Technology

Educational Technology & Instruction

Educational technologies are the tools
teachers use to create an effective
instructional event
An instructional event includes all activities
that promote the transfer of knowledge and/or
skills in the learning environment
The learning environment includes the
physical and non-physical aspects of the area
in which the instructional event takes place
Teaching and Learning with Technology

About Learning
A variety of theories explain how people learn
Each theory offers a different perspective on
learning
Some theories may be contradictory
Each teacher must personally decide which
theory he or she agrees with

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Learning Theories
Learning as Communication
Knowledge is transferred by sending a
message from sender to receiver
Receiver then returns feedback to sender
Sender receives feedback
All messages are impacted by variables that
may alter the pure meaning of the intended
message
Teaching and Learning with Technology

Learning Theories
Factors Affecting Learning
Psychological
Factors
Environmental
Factors

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Personal
Filters

Learning Theories
Environmental Factors
Any factor in the environment that may cause
a learner to lose focus
Environmental conditions can block
communications
Lighting, movement, temperature may all
interfere with communications

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Learning Theories
Psychological Factors
Unique individual differences that define and
impact reception of communicated
information
Emotional state may interfere with message
reception
Learning styles (preferred sensory gateways)
may interfere with transmission
Teaching and Learning with Technology

Learning Theories
Personal Filters
Individuals values, heritage, and belief
system that may alter intended messages
May include attitudes, cultural differences,
and opinions
Filters are present in both sender and
receiver

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Learning Theories
Behaviorists
All behavior is a response to external stimuli
Students learn (acquire behaviors, skills and
knowledge) in response to rewards and
punishments
Learning is a passive response to the
environment

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Learning Theories
Cognitivists
Focus is on learning as a mental operation
Information enters through senses, is
mentally manipulated, stored and used
Learning is explained in terms of how one
thinks
Believe learning is more complex than simple
behavioristic responses
Teaching and Learning with Technology

Learning Theory
Constructivists
Knowledge is constructed as a result of the
learning process and is unique to the person
who constructs it
Learning happens when knowledge is
assimilated or accommodated (Piaget)
Knowledge may be constructed best in a
social context
Teaching and Learning with Technology

The Learner
Cognitive Styles
The manner in which one thinks and
interprets the environment
Myers-Briggs helps to determine cognitive
preferences
Understanding cognitive styles helps
teachers create a supportive instructional
environment
Teaching and Learning with Technology

The Learner
Learning Styles
Conditions under which one learns best
Relates to individual sensory dominance
Auditory learners learn best by listening
Visual learners learn best by seeing
Kinesthetic/Tactile learners learn best by
doing and touching

Teaching and Learning with Technology

The Learner
Intelligence
Inherent capabilities to learn and understand
Standford-Binet IQ tests emphasize verbal
and mathematical abilities
Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligence theory
suggests everyone has some degree of each
of nine types of intelligence

Teaching and Learning with Technology

The Learner
Multiple Intelligences
Verbal-Linguistic
MathematicalLogical
Musical
Visual-Spatial
Bodily-Kinesthetic

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalistic
Existential

Teaching and Learning

Teaching is a systematic planned sequence
of events
Teaching is a process that communication of
ideas and skills
Teaching takes into account individual and
environmental factors related to the learner
Skilled teachers are aware of learning
theories and learner characteristics that
impact the process
Teaching and Learning with Technology

Teaching and Learning

Technology is a component of the teaching
and learning process
Educational technology includes any
resource used to facilitate teaching and
learning
This view of technology has been an
evolution consistent with the evolution of
learning theories
Teaching and Learning with Technology

Educational Technology
An Historical Overview
The audio-visual movement began in the
early 1900s with the advent of movies
Slides, radio, sound recordings were added in
the 1920s-1930s to support the wars
Television drove audio-visuals in the 1950s

Teaching and Learning with Technology

Educational Technology
An Historical Overview
In the 1960s A-V was expanded to a broader
systems view
By the 1970s educational technology was
redefined to include all types of learning
resources and systems
With the advent of the computer in the 1980s,
educational technology entered the Digital
Age
Teaching and Learning with Technology

Educational Technology
Today
The systems view of educational technology
embraces all media and systems that support
the teaching and learning process
Each teacher must decide how to best utilize
technology in support of his or her students

Teaching and Learning with Technology