My definition of Educational Technology is grounded by AECT’s definition that “Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources” (Januszewshi & Molenda, 2008). I like this definition because 1) it encompasses both the practice of teaching and learning and the study of the same, and 2) it includes improving performance, a pivotal and central reason why we use technology as well as facilitating learning, which would include learning aids of various kinds. What I think it is missing is an acknowledgement that learning is a social activity, and therefore a definition of educational technology needs a social viewpoint to be complete (Luppicini, 2005). Therefore my definition of educational technology is that it is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources in the social context of schools and education.
Resources
Januszewski, A. & Molenda, M. (2008). Educational technology: A definition with commentary. Erlbaum. New York.
Luppicini, R. (2005). A systems definition of educational technology in society. Educational Technology & Society, 8(3), 103-109.
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