The Roles and Function of Educational Technology in 21st Century

Name: Jessa Rose P. CondeSchedule: Educ2D (4:30-5:30pm)M-F

Educational Technology

Is a systematic, iterative process for designing instruction or training used to improve performance.

It is also known as instructional technology or learning technology.

What is 21st Century Learning?

The term "21st-century skills" is generally used to refer to certain core competencies such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that advocates believe schools need to teach to help students thrive in today's world.

Roles of

Educational Technology

in 21st Century

The role of technology in the classroom is ever changing. Those who utilize and embrace the use of technology in the classroom are better prepared to serve the next generation of learners.

The role of technology is helping educators promote and teach the 4 C's (Critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity) of 21st Century Learning.

They are teaching students skills that they will need once they are out of their educational career and serve our communities. 

Gone are the days of a teacher standing in front of a room full of students, lecturing them.

In the current classroom, computers, tablets, iPods, iPads, Smartboards, etc. fill the hands of the students and classrooms.

Teachers no longer dictate facts to the students, but inspire students to extend their knowledge and ask questions.

Teachers are supporters and promote thinking.

The role of technology in the classroom is rapidly changing and creating a new atmosphere of learning. 

Richard E. MayerAccording to him and his 12 Principles

of Multimedia Learning, students learn better when words are joined with pictures instead of just words alone.

Teachers can utilize this idea when creating different multimedia projects and lessons for their students. This can be implemented into any classroom. 

Functionsof

Educational Technology

1. Improvement of TeachingEducational Technology analyses the

process of teaching thoroughly. It tries to find out the different

variables of teaching, their interlinks, effects upon each other, relationships, theories of teaching, phases of teaching principles of teaching, maxims of teaching etc.

By developing the theories of teaching, it helps in improving the quality of education.

2. Analysis of the Teaching-Learning Process

Educational Technology aims at analyzing the process of teaching-learning thoroughly.

It tries to find out the different variables of teaching their interlinks effects upon each other, relationship etc.

3. Improvement of Learning

Educational Technology analyses the process of learning and the related theories.

It facilitates more and more of learning in less time.

It takes the help of various empirically established generalizations from psychology, sociology, physical sciences, engineering etc.

4. Fixing up Goals of Education

The objectives of education are being reviewed and revised with the passage of time.

Educational technology helps in finding out the right objectives.

Everything in this universe is undergoing tremendous changes and with a very fast speed.

5. Training to TeachersThe changed type of environment

with new curriculum and new materials is to be handled by the teachers.

The teachers equipped with old strategies and methodologies of teaching will remain misfits.

The use of video tapes and close circuit T.V. will help the teachers to remodel and reshape their teaching behaviors suitably.

6. Development of Curriculum

Curriculum is the total teaching-learning environment which has to be modified and remodeled in the light of latest thoughts.

Only educational technology can do this job of developing a suitable curriculum appropriately.

7. Development of Teaching-Learning Materials

Teaching- learning materials are also as important as anything else in the teaching-learning process.

They have to be in accordance with the environment of the learners.

In this age of science and technology, the materials of teaching cannot be unscientific.

8. Teaching-Learning StrategiesThe strategy has to be the right one

which should be according to the materials and is able to bring about effective teaching-learning.

The different strategies are being evolved by educational technology.

The knowledge of those strategies is a must for every teacher. Then only the teachers will be able to do justice to their jobs.

9. Development of Audio-Visual Aids

Audio-Visual aids have always played an important role in the teaching-learning process. They need be used according to the times.

The software aids, the hardware aids, the computer and other such appliances, equipment etc., have “to be used in the present type of teaching-learning environment.

10. Help in Overall ImprovementEvaluation of the teaching- learning

process is also made better because through feedback, things are improved thoroughly and there is better control over the process of education.

Thus, educational technology can revolutionize the whole process of teaching-learning.

11. Identification of Needs of the Community

Educational Technology identifies the needs of the community.

It helps in providing equal education opportunities to backward people, disadvantaged students and deprived sections of the society.

It helps education to reach the remotest corner of the country.

12. Identification of the Needs of Class-Room BehaviorsEducational Technology identifies the needs

of class-room behavior. As the mass education has reduced the

standard of education, the use of educational technology can maintain and improve the standard by the use of teaching aids and programmed instruction material.

Educational Technology can inspire the students in the class-rooms for self-learning.

THE END