PGDE EST 704-Edu Tech. Lecture Series -Edu. Tech-Lecture Series N0 3-Goals, Scope, Roles and Uses and Characteristics of Educational Technology

Educational Technology Series N0.3-Goals, Scope, Roles and Uses and Characteristics of Educational Technology By Olaide Alabi (PhD) Objectives At the end of this lecture, learners are expected to 1. List the goals of Educational Technology 2. Highlight the scope of Educational Technology. 3. Explain the Roles of Educational Technology 4. Describe the Uses of Educational Technology 5. Mention the Characteristics of educational technology What are the goals of Educational Technology? The goal of Educational technology in most cases only aims at improved efficiency or effectiveness of current practice, but often aims at educational change. While it can be considered a design science it also addresses fundamental issues of learning, teaching, and social organization and therefore makes use of the full range of modern social science and life sciences methodology. "Technology provides us with powerful tools to try out different designs, so that instead of theories of education, we may begin to develop a science of education. Specifically, Educational technology goals include: 1. To improve student outcomes. 2. To enhance individualized education, and reduce the teaching burden on instructors. 3. To modernize education by enhancing learning outcomes, promoting engagement, 4. To increase accessibility and facilitate personalized learning, 5. To encourage lifelong learning, and support professional development. In a nutshell, technology is therefore both a tool and a catalyzer and it can become a medium through which change can happen. What are the scopes of Educational Technology? The extent to which Educational Technology is operational includes curriculum construction, teaching-learning strategies, audio-visual materials, determining educational objectives, training the teachers, feedback, hardware and software etc. Educational Technology can use scientific principles and apply them to transform the educational system environment and make learning more convenient. The scope of educational technology is not only limited to the usage of technological resources in education rather, it includes the development, application and evaluation of systems, techniques and aids in the field of learning. Educational Technology is a dynamic, progressive and effective tool in the hands of teachers, students, and educational administrators. Precisely the scope of educational technology covers: 1. Analysis of teaching and learning 2. Identification of Educational Objectives 3. Development of the Curriculum 4. Development of Teaching-Learning Materials 5. Preparation of Teacher 6. Teaching-Learning Strategies 7. Audio-Visual Aids 8. Utilisation of Hardware and Mass Media 9. Utilisation of the Subsystem of Education 10. Providing Feedback and Control through Evaluation 11. Creating awareness of how emerging technologies could impact the educational system Roles of Educational Technology Educational technology in education is significant because it assists today's teachers in taking part in utilising new technologies and tools in their classrooms. Teachers could promote and develop the learner-centeredness of their classrooms. It allows teachers to engage their students in exclusive, inventive, and practical ways. Educational technology improves open access to education, including access to full degree programmes, it develops one to design a proper and accurate curriculum for the attainment of specific goals, and it also analyses and evaluates the teaching-learning process. To be exact the role of educational technology covers: 1) If used correctly, will help prepare students for their future careers, which will inevitably include the use of wireless technology. 2) Integrating technology into the classroom is a great way to reach diversity in learning styles. 3) It gives students the chance to interact with their classmates more by encouraging collaboration. 4) Technology helps the teachers prepare students for the real-world environment 5) Integrating technology in education every day helps students stay engaged. Today’s students love technology so they are sure to be interested in learning if they can use the tools they love. 6) With technology, the classroom is a happier place. Students are excited about being able to use technology and therefore are more apt to learn. 7) When mobile technology is readily available in the classroom, students can access the most up-to-date information quicker and easier than ever before. 8) The traditional passive learning mould is broken. With technology in the classroom, the teacher becomes the encourager, adviser, and coach. 9) Students become more responsible. Technology helps students take more control over their learning. They learn how to make their own decisions and think for themselves. 10) Students can have access to digital textbooks that are constantly updated and often more vivid, helpful, creative, and a lot cheaper than those old heavy 11) It assists students in doing and completing their homework with ease. 12) It gives room for interactions in which communication and collaboration occur between the students as well as teacher and student. 13) Through the use of technology in the teaching and learning process tools are provided for research and critical thinking, 14) Skills are developed to expose people to methods of exploring ethics and using technology. Uses of Educational Technology The use of technology is remarkable, especially during whole-class instruction can foster student engagement for auditory and visual learners. Integrating simple technologies power points, games, internet homework assignments, or online grading systems can be difference makers in students' growth in the classroom. Other uses of educational technology include: 1) Technology education has not only become a network of gathering and sharing ideas, but also a platform for students and teachers to research, collaborate, and differentiate. 2) Through educational technology collaborating and communicating with peers becomes meaningful and it is a meaningful and purposeful way to share ideas. 3) Technology integration offers educators ways to pace student lessons based on the student’s level and multiple intelligence. It could help to transform the classroom into a digital learning environment. 4) Effective technology could be used to integrate interdisciplinary activities in a way that deepens and enhances student’s learning process. 5) Technology in the classroom could lead to active engagement, collaboration among peers, and connections to the real world. 6) It could be used to make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun! 7) It could be used to engage in Distance learning and improve access to education. 8) It offers personalized learning opportunities and Develops metacognition. 9) To connect better with students and Increase student engagement. 10) To provide better Learning Management Systems. 11) It could improve teacher practice, ease teaching methods gamified learning. 12) To guide students in creating student websites, enhancing learning at their own pace and allowing students to create products. 13) Provide faster access to information and Immersive learning experiences. 14) It could open up a more engaged learning environment, improve interaction and communication, and make studying enjoyable. 15) Useful for preparing students for the real world and online curricula. Characteristics of educational technology 1. It is a good source for educational design; this means it depends on designing educational programs, educational strategies, study materials, and writing educational texts. 2. It brought some levels of expansion to the educational system thereby representing the development and production of visual and audio programs, printed materials and applications of computer technology. 3. It is a weapon for a good agenda; it is to analyse the various ongoing problems in the educational process and try to solve them and analyse their results and levels. 4. It has the trait of improving the educational system 5. It is based on scientific advancement and research 6. It is the modern way of teaching and learning 7. The innovative technology saves the extra amount spent on traditional educational resources. By reducing educational cost it helps students to learn subjects easily and effectively. 8. It is based on the modern concept of discipline 9. It is a science of techniques. 10. It is an avenue for global unity, some level of togetherness is ensured in the utilisation of educational technology References AcademiaEdu https://www.academia.edu/82942649/Concept_and_Scope_of_Educational_Technology_Types_Teaching_Technology_Instructional_Technology_Approaches_to_EdTech_Software_Hardware_and_Systems_Approach_