From all the tidbits that I include in my mind that help define technology, I would say it is something that can support meaning making by students when students learn with rather than from technology by utilizing tools and their applications (Jonassen, 2000).  Designers of learning experiences need to know their learners’ strengths/weaknesses, prior knowledge, and a clear precise goal of what they are trying to achieve with their TELE.

The TELE should be designed in a way that it supports:1) inquiry and exploration to acquire new knowledge 2) collaboration to construct and integrate the knowledge and 3) creation to showcase the learners understanding or application of the knowledge.  Technologies in TELEs can be thought of as vehicles whose “functionality relies not only on their attributes but also on their context, the logistical systems and infrastructures that afford their functionality” (Jonassen, Campbell & Davidson, 1994).

References

Jonassen, D. H. (2014). Mindtools (Productivity and Learning). Encyclopedia of Science Education, 1-7. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6165-0_57-1

Jonassen, D., Campbell, J., & Davidson, M. (1994). Learning with media: Restructuring the debate. Educational Technology Research And Development, 42(2), 31-39. doi: 10.1007/bf02299089