Module 1: The Definition of Educational Technology: Etymological and Semantic Foundations
The following is a chart consisting of quotes I found from Petrina & Feng’s (2008) article regarding the various foundations and definitions of the disciplines related to ET.
|
Disciplines |
Foundations |
Definitions |
|
e-learning |
Distance education, Online learning |
“The effective teaching and learning process created by combining e-digital content with local community and tutor support along with global community engagement” (Beebe, Tusubira, & Twaakyando, 2002). (p. 7) |
|
Educational technology |
AV education (AV materials, projectors, and teaching machines) | Any use of technology for teaching and learning. (p. 6) |
|
Learning technologies |
Educational technology |
Information and communication technologies used to support learning. New learning technologies include the Internet, computer networks, CD-ROM, video and computer conferencing, interactive television, computer-assisted instruction, multimedia, animation, virtual reality and simulations. (The Canadian Office of Learning Technologies) (p. 7) |
|
ICT |
Computer science and studies |
Information technology reflects preoccupations with applications and in business education is information technology management. (p. 10) |
|
New media |
ICT |
The design of animated and interactive content for the internet, TV, CD, DVD, and other media environments.New media refers to new practices with digital technologies and a field of study of these practices. (p. 11) |
Source: Petrina, S. & Feng, F. (2008). Primer for defining and theorizing technology in education, pt. 1. Vancouver, BC: Tech no-Printing Press.
This chart is important because it gives a quick overview of the origins of ET. The foundations of the various disciplines found in the above chart shows that as new technologies are developed, pedagogical and learning theories remain in a constant state of flux. This suggests that not only do educators of ET need to remain updated to current research and studies in ET, there is also a call for educators to reflect upon and share their personal theories on ET (Scanlon, 2002).
For me, technology is any tool (hardware/software) that helps advance the human race (from an individual level to the society in general), and therefore ET would be the study of the ways of utilizing those tools to advance society.
In my opinion, any technology can be beneficial for learning. It is how the educator frames the lesson, uses the tech and relates the objectives to the lives of the learners that determine the level of engagement and quality of learning for the learners.
The MET senior program assistant, David Roy, sets a good example of how to be engaged and literate in our field of study (if you follow his posts on Google+). We should thus strive to remain in a constructive learning environment by creating and maintaining an environment for constructive learning, so that the field of ET will reflect the most up to date research to help benefit our students.