Lesson 1

Lesson 1

Meaning of Educational Technology

It is the application of technology in the educative process or the teaching-learning process that takes place in educational institutions.

What are the differences of Technology in Education, Instructional Technology and Technology Integration with each other?

Technology in Education is the application of technology in the operation of the educational institution. For example, the billing process, enrollment process, ID system, etc. Instructional Technology then, refers to aspects of Educational Technology that are concerned with instructions like, projectors, laptops, LED monitors, tablets and cell phones, and anything that can be used for instructing the learners. And Technology Integration is the use of learned technologies to introduce, supplement and extend the skills of the learners. One example for this is the use of computer in schools by the students.

There are benefits in using Educational Technology. It increases the quality of learning and the degree of its mastery through the use of special effects of unique programming that are considered individualized, valid and accessible. It also decreases the time spent in instruction for learners to achieve desired learning objectives. It increases efficiency of teachers. And it reduces educational cost without affecting the quality of instruction. Those are the benefits that we could get from Educational Technology.

Here are guidelines in using Educational Technology for learners to understand and relate with the topics that are being taught by the speaker. You have to determine the purpose for which the instructional materials are to be used. Define the objectives to determine the appropriateness of the material. Also, exercise flexibility so that the materials satisfy different purposes. You must consider diversity or variety of materials. You should relate the materials to age, ability, maturity and interest of the students. You should also arrange the conditions so that the materials do not interrupt the momentum of the lesson and prepare the students for what they will see, hear and do as lessons unfold. Another, you must know how to operate equipment needed for efficient use. You should summarize the experiences gained and follow up with further relevant discussion. And lastly, you must evaluate the results of the used materials as well as your method of teaching to determine effectiveness.

The most commonly used media or materials for instruction are the following: Print Media which is considered to be the most dominant and the primary means of communicating subject matter. Some examples are books, textbooks and periodicals. Another is Pictures and Graphics which are useful means of expressing ideas. Some examples are pictures, graphics, visual display devices and projection devices. We also have Sound Recordings and Radio like phonograph records, audiotapes, compact disc and radio itself. Film and Television is also used. Video Recordings like videotapes and discs, cables and satellites and camcorder. Computer-based Learning (CBL) is also used which enables students to study almost anytime in convenient locations and with varying ability levels by using computer software. Lastly the Web, it is widely used nowadays because it’s easy and helpful in terms of getting information. We have Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia for some examples.

There are criteria in selecting instructional materials. First the appropriateness, materials must catch the general and specific objectives of the lesson and you must also consider the difficulty of the concepts taught, the vocabulary level of the students, the methods used in teaching and the interest of your learners. Second the authenticity, materials must be accurate, up to date and reliable with information. Third is interest and appeal to users, materials must have the power to catch the interest of users. Fourth is organization and balance, materials must be very clear, well-organized and logically sequenced. Fifth is cost effectiveness or economy, materials used must be relative to the cost of other similar materials, their durability and the number of student users. And lastly the breadth, the scope of materials must suit to different types of learners and learning purposes.

There are also Ten Commandments in creating learning materials aside from the commandments written in the Bible.  The first one is, do not overcrowd. When you are making visual presentation make sure that it is visible to all. Second, be consistent in format, layout and convention. What format and layout or design you used from the start must be similar or related until the end. Third, use appropriate typefaces or point uses. Use what appropriate font size and font style is needed. Fourth, use bold and italics for emphasis but do not overused them. Use them only if necessary. Fifth, use titles, headings and subheadings to clarify and guide. This will help the learners to know and help them follow the discussion. Sixth, use numbers to direct through sequences. Use numbers to determine the arrangement. Seventh, use graphics and illustrations to reinforce ideas. Pictures and graphics can help the learners to understand the main purpose and idea. Eighth, use symbols and icons as identifying markers. Just like pictures, symbols can be used also to help the learner determine what the speaker wants to portray. Ninth, use color/video/audio/music to stimulate but not to overpower the senses. This will help to catch the attention of the learners and this will put some interest and excitement in the lesson. And tenth, produce the materials with technical excellence, good quality, good audio, clear, etc.  Check the materials before using it and make sure that it is in good condition.