Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of
facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and
managing appropriate technological processes and resources." The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and learning theory. While instructional technology
is "the theory and practice of design, development, utilization,
management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning,"
according to the Association for Educational Communications and
Technology (AECT) Definitions and Terminology Committee
, educational technology includes other systems used in the process of
developing human capability. Educational Technology includes, but is not
limited to, software, hardware, as well as Internet applications and
activities. But there is still debate on what these terms mean.
Technology of education is most simply and comfortably defined as an
array of tools that might prove helpful in advancing student learning
and may be measured in how and why individuals behave. Educational
Technology relies on a broad definition of the word "technology".
Technology can refer to material objects of use to humanity, such as
machines or hardware, but it can also encompass broader themes,
including systems, methods of organization, and techniques. Some modern
tools include but are not limited to overhead projectors, laptop
computers, and calculators. Newer tools such as "smartphones" and games
(both online and offline) are beginning to draw serious attention for
their learning potential. Media psychology is the field of study that
applies theories in human behavior to educational technology.
Those who employ educational technologies to explore ideas and communicate meaning are learners or teachers.
Consider the Handbook of Human Performance Technology.
The word technology for the sister fields of Educational and Human
Performance Technology means "applied science." In other words, any
valid and reliable process or procedure that is derived from basic
research using the "scientific method" is considered a "technology."
Educational or Human Performance Technology may be based purely on
algorithmic or heuristic processes, but neither necessarily implies
physical technology. The word technology comes from the Greek "techne"
which means craft or art. Another word, "technique," with the same
origin, also may be used when considering the field Educational
Technology. So Educational Technology may be extended to include the
techniques of the educator.
A classic example of an Educational Psychology text is Bloom's 1956 book, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. Bloom's Taxonomy
is helpful when designing learning activities to keep in mind what is
expected of—and what are the learning goals for—learners. However,
Bloom's work does not explicitly deal with educational technology per se and is more concerned with pedagogical strategies.
According to some, an Educational Technologist is someone who
transforms basic educational and psychological research into an
evidence-based applied science (or a technology) of learning or
instruction. Educational Technologists typically have a graduate degree
(Master's, Doctorate, Ph.D., or D.Phil.) in a field related to
educational psychology, educational media, experimental psychology,
cognitive psychology or, more purely, in the fields of Educational,
Instructional or Human Performance Technology or Instructional (Systems)
Design. But few of those listed below as theorists would ever use the
term "educational technologist" as a term to describe themselves,
preferring terms such as "educator".
The transformation of educational technology from a cottage industry to
a profession is discussed by Shurville, Browne, and Whitaker.
source : wikipedia