Week 2 - What is Educational Technology?

Definition

Simply stated  the term educational technology is any technology which supports understanding and instruction.  The world has seen and continues to see an exponential growth of educational technology in the use, the strands and the fine tuning of the strands.  No classroom is complete without Internet access.  The field educational technology encompasses the theory, the professional growth, the ethics and the instructional standards embedded in technology’s use in the classroom. 

Wordle - Concept Map

                                           

For my concept map I chose two songs which illustrate societal and technological change.  The first is from the 1960's, In the Year 2525 and the second is more modern, We Didn't Start the Fire.

Today's Learner

Today's Learners also referred to as Digital Natives are experiencing a physiological change.  It has been found that their brains can be reorganized and have been.  The teachers (baby boomers) referred to as Digital Immigrants, if not connected themselves can bore the student.  Today's students complain about being bored at school and report that they have to power down.  They are regularly connected to several types of media and socially networking.  One has only to watch high schools students try to stay away from their social network for the duration of an Advanced Placement exam to know how pervasive technology is in their minds and lives.

The Reality of Education

The reality of education is it must change to satisfy the demands and needs of the new learner.  Specifically the mindset must change from the administration down and teachers must continually look for ways to integrate technology to keep students engaged.

Potential Impact

If the brain of the student learner can constantly be reorganized, so can that of a teacher. Teachers must change to meet the needs.  It is still to be determined what the reorganization of the brain will produce.  My personal experience is that I become so "wired" I have to take a technology break.  I find myself so unsettled it is difficult to sit down and read. 

One key area found to be impacted is one of reflection.  This has suffered in the information age.  We will have to invent ways for students to incorporate this into their learning plan.

Videos

I have seen these before and each time I view them I am overwhelmed with our task of educating the future.  I am reminded of a quote I read when I was an undergraduate many years ago.  Paraphrased is reads, "What we learn in life is of little moment, what is important is we learn how to learn."

I will consider myself a great success if I can teach my students how to learn for themselves.