MODULE 1

LESSON 1. Meaning of Educational Technology

“Technology is more than hardware. Technology consists of the designs and the environments
that engage learners.”-D. Jonassen

INTRODUCTION
The organization of this course on Educational technology 1 is based on the broad meaning of
educational technology. That’s why we start this course with a comprehensive understanding of
the term educational technology.

ACTIVITY
BRAINSTORMING
 In two minutes, write down anything that comes to mind when you hear the phrase
educational technology. (Teacher writes them on the board.)
 Read what you wrote.

ANALYSIS
Questions for discussion
 Of the words written on the board, what is the most common?
 Are there words that are related? If yes, how are they related?
 What conclusion can you draw on what most people think educational technology is?
 Is this common concept on educational technology adequate? Defend your answer.

DR. EPIFANIO P. SAN GASPAR JR., LPT. SIENA COLLEGE TIGAON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1
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ABSTRACTION
Meaning of Educational Technology
To understand the meaning of educational technology, it may be good to begin with the meaning
of technology. The word “technology” comes from the Greek word techne which means craft or
art. Based on the etymology of the word “technology”, the term educational technology,
therefore, refers to the art or craft of responding to our educational needs.

Many people think that technology refers only to machines such as computers, tv, videos, and
the like. All these form part of technology but educational technology is also these and more!
Technology is not just machines. It is a “planned, systematic method of working to achieve
planned outcomes – a process not a product. Technology is the applied side of scientific
development.”(Dale, 1969) technology also refers to any valid and reliable process or procedure
that is derived from basic research using the scientific method.”Technology refers to “all the
ways people use their inventions and discoveries to satisfy their needs and desires.” (The World
Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 19) So, educational technology refers to how people use their
inventions and discoveries to satisfy their educational needs and desires, i.e. learning.

Educational technology is “a complex, integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas,

devices, and organization for analyzing and devising, implementing, evaluating, and managing
solution to those problems, involved in all aspects of human learning.” ( Association for
Educational Communications and Technology, 1977. The definition of educational technology,
1-16, Washington D.C.: AECT.)

Educational technology “consists of the designs and environments that engage learners … and
reliable technique or method for engaging learning such as cognitive learning strategies and
critical thinking skills.” ( David H. Jonassen, et al 1999. )

Educational technology is a theory about how problems in human learning are identified and
solved. ( David H. Jonassen, Kyle L. Peck, Brent G. Wilson, 1999 ). As a theory, educational
technology has an “integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events.”

Educational technology is a field involved in applying a complex, integrated process to

analyze and solve problems in human learning. ( David H. Jonassen, et al 1999).

Educational technology is a field study which is concerned with the practice of using
educational methods and resources for the ultimate goal of facilitating the learning process.
(Lucido and Borabo, 1997). As a field, it operates within the total field of education.

DR. EPIFANIO P. SAN GASPAR JR., LPT. SIENA COLLEGE TIGAON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1
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Educational technology is a profession like teaching. It is made up of organized effort to

implement the theory, intellectual technique and practical application of educational technology.
( David H. Jonassen, et al 1999).

From the definition of educational technology given above, we can say that educational
technology is a very broad term. It is the application of scientific findings in our method, process
or procedures of working in the field of education in order to affect learning. It embraces
curriculum and instructional design, learning environments, theories of teaching-learning. It is
also a field study and a profession. It is the use of all human inventions for teachers to realize
their mission to teach in order that students learn.

There are other terms that are associated with educational technology. We come across
terms like technology in education, instructional technology and technology integration in
education books, educational media. Are they synonymous with educational technology?

Technology in education is “the application of technology to any of those processes

involved in operating the institutions which house the educational enterprise. It includes the
application of technology to food, health, finance, scheduling, grade, reporting, and other
processes which support education within institutions.” (David H. Jonassen, et al, 1999).

Instructional technology is a part of educational technology. Instructional technology

refers to those aspects of educational technology that “are concerned with instruction as
contrasted to designs and operations of educational institutions. Instructional technology is a
systematic way of designing, carrying out, and evaluating the total process of learning and
teaching in terms of specific objectives.” (Lucido and Brabo, 1997).

Technology integration means using “learning technologies to introduce reinforce,

supplement and extend skills.” (Williams, ed. 2000). Like instructional technology, it is a part of
educational technology. Technology integration is part and parcel of instructional technology,
which in turn is a part of educational technology.

Educational media are channels or avenues or instruments of communication. Examples

are books, magazines, newspapers, radio, television and Internet. These media also serve
educational purposes.

Which of the terms above are very much related to educational technology? Which one is
least related?

APPLICATION
1. Work in small groups. Explain what educational technology is by using this graphic
organizer.

DR. EPIFANIO P. SAN GASPAR JR., LPT. SIENA COLLEGE TIGAON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1
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Educational
Technology

DR. EPIFANIO P. SAN GASPAR JR., LPT. SIENA COLLEGE TIGAON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1
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2. Using the three concentric circles given below, show that educational technology,
instructional technologies are much broader than educational media and technology
integration.

3. Differentiate education technology from technology in education by the help of these

arrows. The direction of the arrows suggests that they differ.

4. Are the chalkboards and bulletin boards and other traditional learning equipment also
included in the term educational technology?

DR. EPIFANIO P. SAN GASPAR JR., LPT. SIENA COLLEGE TIGAON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1
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5. Individual Activity- Accomplish this Learning Bank

Deposit/s Dividend/s

(What I learned) (How I use what I earned in my life)

SUMMING UP

Educational technology is a broad term. Often times, however, it is given a narrow meaning, to
mean just hardware. It refers to the use of all human inventions and discoveries to satisfy our
educational need and desire, i.e., learning. These inventions and discoveries can be devices,
tools, equipment, activities, procedures and processes. Included among these human inventions
are the various educational media. Educational technology is more than instructional technology
in the same way that education is more than instruction. Technology integration is part of
instructional technology which, in turn, is part of educational technology. Educational
technology is different from technology in education. The latter refers to the application of
technology in the operation of education institutions while the former refers to the application of
technology in the educative process that takes place in such education institutions.

MAKING THE CONNECTION

DR. EPIFANIO P. SAN GASPAR JR., LPT. SIENA COLLEGE TIGAON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1
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Recall your course on Principles of Teaching. Was educational technology or instructional

technology ever mentioned? If not, were there terms that you learned in that course that are
related to educational technology?

Postscript- Educational Technology is Hardware and More!

We sometimes think that educational technology is limited to tools and equipment. We are made
to understand that educational technology is more than material for it also includes processes,
procedures and activities, instructional and curricular designs, learning environment and systems.
Likewise, we think that educational technology includes only the recent human inventions like
video, computer, CD-ROM and INTERNET as though the traditional tools like the chalkboard
that teachers have been using for all years are not part. The chalkboard, no matter how old, is
also a human invention and so definitely forms part of educational technology. In fact, even
today every classroom has a chalkboard. The chalkboard remains to be popular equipment in the
classroom.

DR. EPIFANIO P. SAN GASPAR JR., LPT. SIENA COLLEGE TIGAON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 1