Educational technology is a field of study that investigates the

process of analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and

evaluating the instructional environment and learning materials in
order to improve teaching and learning. It is important to keep in
mind that the purpose of educational technology (also referred to as
instructional technology) is to improve education. We must define the
goals and needs of education first and then we use all our knowledge,
including technology, to design the most effective learning
environment for students.

Instructional technology can also be seen as a process of solving

educational problems and concerns, which might include motivation,
discipline, the drop-out rate, school violence, basic skills, critical
thinking, and the whole list of educational concerns. First, the
problem is identified, an analysis of the factors of the problem is
made, and possible solutions to the problem are presented. Then, the
student population and the curriculum are analyzed. The next step is
to select the most appropriate instructional strategies for the
particular situation. Next, instructional materials and resources are
selected that are suitable for the curriculum and the mode of
instruction chosen. Finally, the program is implemented, evaluated,
and revised as needed in order to meet the stated goals for school
improvement.

The learning materials today have greatly expanded because of the

various technological advances. Instructional materials include more
conventional materials, such as the blackboard, overhead projectors,
televisions, VCRs, overhead projectors, slide projectors, and opaque
projectors, as well as newer materials, such as the computer, various
software applications, LCD projectors, camcorders, digital cameras,
scanners, the Internet, satellite, interactive TV, audio and video
conferencing, artificial intelligence, and so on.

Teachers in the public schools and faculty at universities need to

understand what types of materials are available, how to use them,
why they should be used, when they should be used, and how to
integrate them into the teaching/learning environment in order to
meet the ultimate goal of improving education. Teachers also need to
seriously consider how these newer materials can affect what and
how we learn and teach.
The issue of what these materials are and how to use them is a first
step. But we must quickly begin to discuss how these materials
should be used and how they affect the curriculum and instruction in
our schools. Technology can be used to perpetuate a teacher-led,
knowledge-based learning approach or it can be used to help us
implement a student-centered, constructivist, and progressive
approach. We need to help teachers to understand the bigger picture
of how technology can revolutionize education. Just teaching teachers
how to use the technology will lead to enhancing a knowledge-level
educational system. Teaching them the real potentials of technology
will lead to promoting higher-level thinking, independent learning,
and life-long learning.

The skills and issues that need to be addressed by teachers are vast.
To help in understanding what these skills and issues are, the
Coordinator of Educational Technology at UNCA has created a list of
items regarding educational technology. These are items that the
faculty at the universities need to understand so that they can
incorporate them into their own teaching and thus help preservice
teachers understand them so that they can more effectively utilize
technology in their own teaching as well.

Remember, in all of these areas of educational technology that the

goal of improving a specific aspect of teaching and learning comes
first. The technology is selected to help us meet these goals.

For more information on Instructional Technology, click here.

Software Tools

Word processing, database, spreadsheet, telecommunications,

presentation, authoring, graphic paint programs. Teachers need to
know how to use them, how to teach them to students, and how and
why to use them in the classroom.

Software Types

Drill and practice, tutorials or computer-based instruction, and

simulations. Teachers need to know what these are as well as why,
when, and how to incorporate them into their teaching.

Integrated Learning Systems

Also known as computer-managed instruction. Teachers need to know
what this is, how to use it, when to use it, with what grade levels and
subject areas to use it, with what students to use it, and its role in
the educational process.

Equipment Use

Digital camera, scanner, camcorder, CD-writer, computer, modem,

printer, VCR, LCD projector, laser-disc player, and others. Teachers
need to know how to use them and how they can be used in the
classroom.

Multimedia Integration

Create and find graphics, images, audio files, video files, and
animations. Import these multimedia objects into their presentations
and learning materials. Understand how and why the integration of
multimedia helps them to teach and how it helps students to learn.

Audio and Video Conferencing

Understand what these are and how to incorporate them into the
educational process. Understand various teaching methods that best
utilize these tools. Understand how these can affect how we learn.

Distance Education

Understand what it is, types of instructional delivery systems and

media to be used (i.e., self-instructional manuals, slides, satellite,
videotaped instruction, interactive TV, and the Internet), how to
design courses using distance education, the differences in this type
of learning and teaching, techniques for delivering instruction in this
method, and why and how this approach can be used at various
grade levels.

Classroom Configurations

How to best equip and utilize technology in the classroom. How to

use the technology in the classroom. Classrooms need multimedia
technology in each classroom. Teachers need access to teaching
computers, LCD projectors, scanners, and other equipment in the
classroom. Teachers need to be able to quickly use this equipment
and access software when needed. Teachers need to be able to
access and display the Internet and know how to utilize the Internet,
software programs, presentation software, videotapes, and so on, in
their teaching methods. Classrooms also need software and
equipment available to their students.

Web Board

How to use it, how to set up discussion groups for students, how to
post assignments and readings, and how to use it for students to post
their assignments. Teachers need to understand how and why this
technology can affect their teaching approach.

Web Pages

How to create web pages, how to use them in their teaching, and why
they should use them. Web pages can have many functions for
displaying information and creating student interaction. Web pages
can also be used for helping students be more independent learners.

The Internet

What it is, how to use it, and how to incorporate it into the
teaching/learning process. Teachers need to know how to search for
information, how to critically analyze and evaluate this information,
how to use FTP (file transfer protocol), telnet, email, mailing lists, and
newsgroups. Teachers need to know how this powerful system can
affect what is learned and how learning can best occur.

Software Review and Evaluation

How to select appropriate software for specific grade levels and

content areas, how to evaluate the effectiveness of this software, and
what types of software are available. Teachers need to be thoroughly
familiar with many of the software options available and understand
when and how to use them in the classroom.

Integration of Technology

Teachers need to understand the three technological configurations

available additive, integrated, and independent. They need to
understand which configuration that they would like to implement,
why this one is best for them and their students, and how to
implement this method of integration. Teachers need to know how,
when, and why to use any technology in the classroom. Teachers
need to be able to modify how they teach in order to incorporate this
technology.

Design and Create Instructional Materials

How to design and create various instructional materials for learners.

Teachers need to understand design principles, how to create
instructionally effective materials, what types of materials to create to
best meet the learner needs, and how they can utilize these materials
in their teaching. Instructional materials that teachers need to know
how to create range from bulletin boards and transparencies to
PowerPoint, HyperStudio, and web-based materials.

Moral, Legal, and Ethical Issues

Teachers need to understand these issues and how they might affect
what and how they teach. These issues might be copyright and fair
use issues to issues involving access to information. Teachers need to
be aware of societys view on the use of technology and how these
issues might affect what they can do in the classroom.

New Software and Hardware

Teachers need to keep up with what types of instructional materials

and tools that are being developed and how these new materials
might be useful to them as teachers. They need to learn how to use
these new materials and how to incorporate them into their teaching.

Philosophical Questions and Issues

What is the role of technology in education? How should technology

be used for teaching and learning? When should it be used? What
types of learners (learning styles, ages, ability levels, gender, etc.)
can best benefit from what types of technology? How does technology
affect what and how we teach? How does technology affect our
lifestyles and our whole educational system? Should we reconstruct
education because of technology? What should the educational
system look like in the next few years because of these
advancements in technology?