Special Topic: History of Educational Technology

Rosalie G. Alegarbes    BSEd General Science4      MW 3:00-5:00pm

Special Topic: History of Educational Technology   

Content

            There is no written evidence which can tell us exactly who has coined the phrase educational technology. Different educationists, scientists and philosophers at different time intervals have put forwarded different definitions of Educational Technology. Educational technology is a multifaceted and integrated process involving people, procedure, ideas, devices, and organization, where technology from different fields of science is borrowed as per the need and requirement of education for implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those problems involved in all aspects of human learning.

            Educational technology, broadly speaking, has passed through five stages.
The first stage of educational technology is coupled with the use of aids like charts, maps, symbols, models, specimens and concrete materials. The term educational technology was used as synonyms to audio-visual aids. The second stage of educational technology is associated with the 'electronic revolution' with the introduction and establishment of sophisticated hardware and software. Use of various audio-visual aids like projector, magic lanterns, tape-recorder, radio and television brought a revolutionary change in the educational scenario. The third stage of educational technology is linked with the development of mass media which in turn led to 'communication revolution' for instructional purposes. Computer-assisted Instruction (CAI) used for education since 1950s also became popular during this era. The fourth stage of educational technology is discernible by the individualized process of instruction. The invention of programmed learning and programmed instruction provided a new dimension to educational technology. A system of self-learning based on self-instructional materials and teaching machines emerged. The latest concept of educational technology is influenced by the concept of system engineering or system approach which focuses on language laboratories, teaching machines, programmed instruction, multimedia technologies and the use of the computer in instruction. According to it, educational technology is a systematic way of designing, carrying out and evaluating the total process of teaching and learning in terms of specific objectives based on research.

Experience

            The innovation of educational technology, as what I have been observed shows that as the time pass there is a change and as it change there is improvement. In the past generations, teachers use charts and maps to an aid to instruction. Teaching how to add and to subtract is being represented by pictures like apples, mangoes, pencil, etc. In my elementary years, I cannot remember my teachers bringing computers in our classroom.  The teachers as well as the students depend much on printed books. Learning experiences given, if there are, are still more on the books—letting us answers the questions that are found at the end of a story or a poem or letting us answer the unit check-ups at the last part of the unit. I could only remember when there is a start of computer integration in the teaching and learning process is during my high school years, but not really rampant. Even making a write ups, assignments and projects are written on a paper, that why we are trying to write it clean and legibly. I could also still remembers when is the first time that our teacher use a PowerPoint in presenting her topic—it is during our fourth years in high school.   That year is really the start of computer integration in teaching because that is the start where I learn how to use computers because of our computer subject.

     

Reflection                                                         

        This topic talks about how educational technology has evolve from a simple charts, maps, models and etc. to a more advanced--- programmed instruction,  multimedia technologies and the use of computers in instruction. This only shows that there’s no room on being stock on the past. From a simple form of aid in instruction which is more on printed materials to a much high-tech one. Past, teachers used to be the only source of information but as the time pass by, students can also contribute to every ones learning. From a simple book to electronic books and from a traditional library to electronic library also shows the progress of educational technology. That is why, traditional teachers need to adopt to these development because as being mention in the past lesson, learners tend to lose their interest in learning because most of them are digital learners which requires digital instruction. That is the also reason why a teacher must bridge the gap between his/her learners and change their ways not just to instruction but also in terms of evaluation.

Application

            Change is the only constant in this world, and if there is change there must be improvements. This only shows that as a future teacher, it is a must to adopt to what is new to cater the interest of the students. The integration of computer in instruction is a great help in achieving the aim of developing basic digital skill and higher thinking skills. There are still advancements that wait in the future, so as a teacher, we must be ready to embrace the new ways in the teaching and learning process. But as for now, it is our role to integrate what is in today.