Mount Carmel College of Teacher Education for Women, Kanjikuzhy, Kottayam, Kerala

686004

EDU 103: Development and Resource in Educational Technology

Module 1 : Educational Technology Concepts, Approaches and Scope

1.1 Concept, Meaning, Definition and Significance of Educational Technology

Information compiled by:

Ms. Amala Jayan
I year B.Ed, (2016-2018 Batch)
Optional subject: English

1.1.1 Introduction

Ongoing efforts to define Educational Technology originate with the definition committee
created by the Association of Educational Communications and Technology (originally the
Department of Audio-Visual Instruction). One popular conception of Educational Technology
is linked to the maturation of the audio-visual movement in education and instructional
training programs beginning in the First World War with developments arising out of master
learning and programmed instruction trends in the fifty's spearheaded by individuals like B.F.
Skinner, and James Finn (Morgan 1978; Reiser, 1987). Early definitions of Educational
Technology are definitions of audiovisual communication. Ely (1963) states, Audiovisual
communication is that branch of educational theory and practice primarily concerned with the
design and use of messages, which control the learning process. Common to these
conceptions is the view of Educational Technology as synonymous with audiovisual
communication and instruction.

In 1970, the Ministry of Education took up a scheme of ET. Under this scheme, an ET
unit in the Ministry, a Centre for Educational Technology (CET) under NCERT, and ET cells
in six SITE states were set up in 1974. (There was a lot of time lag in thought and deed.) Both
CET and DECU (Development and Educational Communications Unit) of the Space
Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad conducted formative and summative research in
respect of the programmes that they had carried out. CET launched a multimedia programme
of in-service teacher training.

The launch of the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) in 1980, and its availability for
educational purposes, led the Ministry of Education to take over the production of
educational television programmes for transmission via Doordarshan.

A project called Computer Literacy and Studies (CLASS) launched in 1984 was a joint
initiative of MHRD, Department of Electronics, and NCERT. It covered 42 Resource Centres
and 2,582 schools. It made use of microcomputers provided by the BBC. The evaluation of
the project by SAC revealed the need for greater interaction between resource centers and
project schools, the need to reduce the time gap between the training of teachers, the
installation of systems, and the initiation of activities in schools, the imparting of adequate
hands-on experience to teachers and students, and the provision of computer literacy
programmes in the timetable.

A revised CLASS project during 19932004 saw the introduction of PC machines in

keeping with broad global trends. Subsequently, the government. Initiated the CLASS 2000
programme with the aim of providing computer literacy in 10,000 schools, computer-assisted
learning in 1,000 schools, and computer-based learning in 100 schools. These 100 schools
were called smart schools, and were designed to be agents of change seeking to promote the
extensive use of computers in the teaching-learning process. Educational Technology could
be defined in simple terms as the efficient organisation of any learning system, adapting or
adopting methods, processes, and products to serve identified educational goals, followed
below :

a) Systematic identification of the goals of education, taking into account nationwide

needs (higher scalability, for instance), the system capabilities, and the learners needs
and potential

b) Recognition of the diversity of learners needs, the contexts in which learning will
take place, and the range of provisions needed for them.
 c) Recognition of not only the immediate needs of children but also their future needs in
relation to the society for which we are preparing them.

d) Designing, providing for, and enabling appropriate teaching-learning systems that

could realise the identified goals.

e) Developing a range of support systems and training, creating the enabling systemic
conditions/materials, reaching these to the school system, and training teachers and
students to use them.

f) Research into existing and new techniques, strategies and technologies for solving
problems of education, enabling judicious an appropriate application of technology.

g) Appreciation of the role of ET as an agent of change in the classroom, influencing the

teacher and the teaching-learning process, and its role in systemic issues like reach,
equity, and quality. (This appreciation should not be limited to educators alone, but
should extend to planners and administrators as well, since systems both at micro and
macro levels will be necessary to meet the current challenges of education.

In a nutshell Educational Technology is the field concerned with the design, development,
utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning. Educational
Technology in Society is a goal oriented problem-solving systems approach utilizing tools,
techniques, theories, and methods from multiple knowledge domains, to:

(1) design, develop, and evaluate, human and mechanical resources efficiently and
effectively in order to facilitate and leverage all aspects of learning, and

(2) guide change agency and transformation of educational systems and practices in
order to contribute to influencing change in society.

1.1.2 Concept of Educational Technology

Educational Technology widely accepted as the application of system approach in the

systematic design of a learning system to bring about improvement in teaching-learning
evaluation process and the concept of programmed learning added another dimensions to the
meaning of educational technology when some new devices and approaches such as
Micro-teaching.
In other words we can see one aspect of Educational Technology related to the use of specific
techniques such as educational television, radio, programmed learning and other audio-
visual aids. In another aspect, Education Technology is seen as the application of scientific
and other organized knowledge to the practical problems of education.

1.1.3 Definition of Educational Technology

G.O. Leith Educational Technology is the application of scientific knowledge and learning
and the conditions of learning to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching and
training.

Robert A. Cox Educational Technology is the application of scientific process to mans

learning conditions.

John P. Dececco Educational Technology is the form of detailed application of psychology

of learning to practical teaching problems

E.E. Hadden Educational Technology is that branch of educational theory and practice
concerned primarily with the design and use of messages which control the learning process.

Richmond Educational Technology is concerned to provide appropriately designed learning

situations which, holding in view of objectives of the Teaching of Training, being to bear the
best means of instruction.

S.S. Kulkarni Educational Technology may be defined as the application of the laws as well
as recent discoveries of science and technology to the process of education.

1.1.4 Meaning of Education Technology

Educational technology is a systematic and organized process of applying modern technology

to improve the quality of education (efficiency, optimal, true, etc.). It is a systematic way of
conceptualizing the execution and evaluation of the educational process, i. e. learning and
teaching and help with the application of modern educational teaching techniques. It includes
instructional materials, methods and organization of work and relationships, i.e. the behavior
of all participants in the educational process. The term teaching resources is commonly
used, although they are not synonymous (Pedagoki leksikon, 1996). The word technology is
derived from the Greek word techno which means the willingness, skills, knowledge of the
way, rule, skill, tools and logos which means science, word, learning, mental state.
Education Technology could be defined in simple terms as the efficient organisation of any
learning system, adapting or adopting methods, processes, and products to serve identified
educational goals

Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and
improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes
and resources.

Definition and Terminology Committee of the Association for Educational

Communications and Technology, Educational Technology: A Definition with Commentary

These are 1. Input, 2. Process and 3. Output. Input is the teachers job and therefore,
educational technology cannot snatch the place of a teacher.

The following 4 Ms are the major components of Educational Technology:-

(i) Methods:

It is concerned with the devices such as Programmed Learning Team Teaching, Micro
Teaching, Personalized System of Instruction in Teaching Learning situations.

(ii) Materials:

Instructional materials such as Programmed Text book the material of this type may be
handwritten or printed.

(iii) Media:

The media used here are audio, or visual or audiovisual. A few examples are radio, tape
recorder, charts, films, educational television etc.

(iv) Man Power:

Man power controls educational technology in every way. Educational Technology without
man is zero.
1.1.4.a -Characteristics of Educational Technology

Characteristics of Educational Technology are as follows:

1. It is based on scientific and technological advancements.

2. It is more a practical discipline and less a theoretical one.

3. It is a fast growing modern discipline.

4. It makes use of the research findings of psychology, sociology, engineering, sciences and
social psychology etc., and applies the same to the field of education.

5. It brings pupils, teachers and technical means together in an effective way.

6. It is the science of techniques and methods. It locates the problems in the field of
education, remedies them and ultimately aims at improving the education system.

7. It is bound to improve the teacher, the learner and the teaching learning process.

1.1.4.b - Education Technology involves:

Systematic identification of the goals of education, taking into account nationwide needs
(higher scalability, for instance), the system capabilities, and the learners needs and potential.

Recognition of the diversity of learners needs, the contexts in which learning will take
place, and the range of provisions needed for them.
 Recognition of not only the immediate needs of children but also their future needs in
relation to the society for which we are preparing them.

Designing, providing for, and enabling appropriate teaching-learning systems that could
realise the identified goals.

Developing a range of support systems and training, creating the enabling systemic
conditions/materials, reaching these to the school system, and training teachers and students
to use them.

Research into existing and new techniques, strategies and technologies for solving problems
of education, enabling judicious and appropriate application of technology.

Appreciation of the role of ET as an agent of change in the classroom, influencing the

teacher and the teaching-learning process, and its role in systemic issues like reach, equity,
and quality. (This appreciation should not be limited to educators alone, but should extend to
planners and administrators as well, since systems both at micro and macro levels will be
necessary to meet the current challenges of education.)

Educational Technology is as wide as Education itself. Educational Technology implies the

use of all educational resources Men, Materials, Methods and Techniques, Means and
Media in an integrated and systematic manner for optimized learning.

1.1.4.c -Technologies Involved n Educational Technology :

Behavioural Technology: Behavioural technology is the important component of

Educational Technology. It puts emphasis on the use of psychological principles in learning
and teaching so that the behaviour of the teacher and pupils may be modified in accordance
of the teaching objectives.

Instructional Technology: Instructional Technology means a network of techniques or

devices employed to accomplish certain defined set of learning objectives. Instructional
technology implies the application of psychological, sociological and scientific principles and
knowledge to instruction for achieving the specific objectives of learning.

Teaching Technology: Teaching is the social and professional activity. It is a process of

development teaching is system of actions which induce learning through interpersonal
relationship. Teaching technology is the application of philosophical, sociological and
scientific knowledge to teaching.
Instructional Design: In order to bring desired changes in the pupils behaviour, the teaching
situations, working tools and new approaches were considered important in addition to the
learning principles. The composite form of all these is instructional design.

Training Psychology: Training psychology is an important method of teaching and learning.

Its development resulted out of the research work carried out on the complicated training
problems and situations.

Training psychology emphasizes that the whole training task should be divided into three
parts. These are:

a) Preparing outline of the task. Task analysis Putting the task in sequence. The main
role of training psychology is in Teacher Education.

b) Cybernetic Psychology: Its a part of training psychology. Cybernetic psychology

accepts human beings as machine. Cybernetic psychology emphasizes the fact that all
the methods of feedback bring the desired changes by controlling the behaviour of the
pupil.

c) System Analysis: System Analysis is a problem solving process in which the needs of
the management are diagnosed and by using an appropriate method for solving the
problem, evaluation is carried out.

1.1.4.c-Nature of Educational Technology

1. The basis of educational technology is science.

2. Educational Technology studies the effect of science and technology upon education. In
other words, science and technology are used under educational technology. Hence, it is the
practical aspect of science.

3. Educational Technology is a continuous dynamic, progressive and effect-producing

method.

4. New conceptions are possible only due to educational technology such as programmed
learning, micro-teaching, simulated teaching, interaction analysis, video-tape, tape-recorder,
projector and computer, etc.

5. Educational Technology accepts schools as a system. In this system, the school-building,

furniture and teachers act as input while various methods, techniques, strategies and the
teaching and examination with the help of audio-visual aids function in the form of a process.
Lastly, the output is in of form of ability of the pupils.

6. Audio-visual aids cannot be termed as educational technology. It is because its concern is

only with the process-aspect of educational technology and not with the input and output
aspects. But if these A.V. aids are used to achieve educational objectives, then it can be put in
the category of Educational technology.

7. Programmed Instruction is also different from Educational Technology. Its main cause is
that the student learns himself during the programmed instructions. It does not allow
interaction between pupil and teacher.

Hence, it can be used only for limited objectives and limited subject-matter. Therefore,
programmed instruction is merely a part of educational technology.

8. Engineering Technology is not the educational technology because the engineering

technology has manufactured radio, tape- recorder, video-tape and T.V., etc., which are used
in teaching as audio-visual aids, but still engineering technology is different from educational
technology. In education, it is accepted as hardware approach only.

9. Educational Technology cannot solve each and every problem of education. It can be used
successfully in teaching and instructional system only.

10. Some people assume that educational technology will replace the teacher which will
make the teacher unemployed one day. It is their mistake. Educational technology can never
replace the teacher. It is because of three aspects of educational technology. These are 1.
Input, 2. Process and 3. Output. Input is the teachers job and therefore, educational
technology cannot snatch the place of a teacher

1.1.5 Significance of using Education technology to educate people.

Equality: School districts across the country are not created equal. There is so much disparity
in educational resources depending on the wealth, or lack thereof, depending on certain areas.
Students using technology in low income districts gain significant skills and advantages in
the learning process. Using the same technology is an equalizer for disadvantaged students.

Future: The world is moving towards technology at a breakneck pace. Educators have a
responsibility to introduce, encourage, and help students master technology, as well as
subjects, as it applies to school and the future. Technology will be used in every aspect of the
professional lives of current students. So upon graduation, whether the next step is college or
career, technology will be used daily. Why not use it daily in school?

Mobile: Using technology the classroom can be taken anywhere. With all the knowledge and
resources contained and deliverable on demand in a mobile device, students can learn at
home or in the field. Mobile technology allows for greater collaboration between students
promoting strong foundations in group work.

Motivation: Technology tracks and reports students progress instantly. What fun is running a
marathon if you dont know how long it takes. Runners can get instant feedback for hundreds
of data points as to their condition. This feedback provides instant motivation to improve
performance.

Social: This runs along the same lines as motivation. Creating a social element to educational
technology can allow for healthy competition amongst peers both in the same classroom or
across the country. Performing well and earning badges to gain virtual social status is of the
heart of many social applications today. Personal identities do not have to be used, instead
students could use avatars to hide possible confidentiality breaches. Using technology to
make education have social elements can make learning very addictive.

Savings: The savings which result from using technology can come in many facets. On a
basic level technology can replace infrastructure. Desks, books, lab equipment and other
items are a heavy cost burden on schools everywhere. Technology and devices can help save
on these costs. In addition geographically isolated or economically disadvantaged children
can benefit from access to online software or resources which would be cost prohibitive
without technology.

Updates: Updating textbooks can cost lots of money and do significant damage to budgets.
On the other hand, updating software and educational content is not as expensive or
cumbersome. With the help of technology course curriculum can reflect real world data. In
some applications students can be exposed to real-time information.
Assessments: Assessing students performance can be done instantly with technology. Its
more than just test scores, simply understanding students grasp of the subject in real time can
be done on tablets in classrooms. A classroom could be questioned with a multiple-choice
problem. Students could then input their answer and the feedback score is instantly given to
the student and teacher. Corrections can be made long before examinations.

Global: Students and classrooms or even schools can be connected to anyone in the world
instantly. Devices coupled with the Internet can allow for a free way to communicate
globally. The chance to understand international or different cultural perspectives on the same
topic is incredible.

Convenience: Having children carry heavy backpacks, text books, and binders isnt very
efficient. A new lightweight laptop weighs less than 5 pounds and can have an internal
storage capability of more than 2 million illustrated pages. In addition to an internal hard
drive, access to the Internet can provide an almost unlimited source of information.
Ergonomic issues and back pain are a real problem in children. These conditions can lead to
chronic problems throughout adulthood.

Conclusion

Education coupled with technology is overall a very positive thing. Its still in relative
infancy and progress will continue to move forward making better systems. Teachers will still
retain control over learning. The school of 10 years ago looks very different from schools
today. Also, students are being inundated with technology at a very young age. The transition
has already begun. Education of the future will be delivered with current information
delivered through traditional teaching methods and fantastic technological tools.

Though Indian Government tried its best to apply Education Technology to its
education system without clarity and preparation, and lacking the machinery to make mid-
course corrections, these programmes failed to bring about the desired changes; some were
given up half way. Given this void, many international corporations, and Indian companies as
well, have entered the arena in recent years which had enhanced in improving the system and
bring new possibilities in the education sector and SMART classroom is one among them.
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