There is still a lot of debate over using technology in the classroom. But first we need to come to some sort of agreement of what we understand Educational Technology to be. I tend to agree with Muffoletto’s definition that “Technology…is not a collection of machines and devices, but a way of acting” (Roblyer & Doering, 2010, p. 6). Of course the “machines and devices” are part of it but much more is necessary. Careful selection of the tools must be made. Attention must be paid to the way they are then used in the classroom. Technology can be used simply to transmit knowledge from teacher to learner but it affords much more than that. Teachers can, and should, use technology by incorporating teaching techniques that maximize or reach its full potential. This opens up a whole new debate. Do we need to create a new pedagogy for teaching with technology or will some of the already established ones work?
Reference
Roblyer, M.D. & Doerring, A. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching, (5th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.