Educational Technology

My definition of educational technology is probably fairly standard with just a hint of a sense of being jaded and a dash of pragmatism.   I have witnessed far too many implementations of software programs and gaming consoles in the name of education.  Increasingly, educators are bombarded with grant opportunities which promise very low cost purchases of said technologies and they jump head-long into the purchase of the product without ever evaluating the worth, application, or sustainability of the proposed technology.  More often than not, the end result is the antithesis of educational technology: a digital babysitter.

Educational technology is not defined by “what” as much as it is defined by “how” and “why”.  Educational technology is the use of technology, selected for a specific purpose, and integrated into the process of education for the purpose of enhancing, extending, and clarifying the teaching process that already exists.  Correctly implemented, it requires identification of desired outcomes and goals, integration with only those staff, students, and/or community members who will benefit directly from the interface with the technology, and on-going evaluation of the process to validate that the technology is a benefit to the process.  This definition may initially seem to be very rigid, however I believe that it actually leaves open the “what”, allowing educators to be free to implement any technology which can plug into the definition, including those gaming consoles and myriad of software programs, but now it can be so many other devices, tools, and implements which are functional in the process.  I very much enjoyed and agreed with November’s comment on the “$2000 pencil”.  In fact I had to walk away from the article, fiendishly chuckling to myself over the truth and irony of the statement.  In that scenario, the word processing program and computer were not being used as educational technology.  They do represent technology, no doubt, and technology exists to assist us with performing work and computers and software do that on a daily basis; but let’s not call an apple a computer.