“It is clear that educational technology is essentially the product of a great historical stream consisting of trial and error, long practice and imitation, and sporadic manifestations of unusual individual creativity and persuasion.” This quote is from Pat Saettler who insists technology is not at all new, and it is not limited to the use of equipment. Modern tools and techniques are simply the latest developments in a field that some believe is as old as education itself. It is important to understand why we use technology and a few reasons include: influence student academic performance, develop higher order of thinking and problem solving, improve student motivation and attitude and help prepare students for the workforce. It is also important to remember using technology can address the needs of low-performing students and those with specific learning needs. There are also downsides of technology which include: viruses/hacking, the new plagiarism, privacy/safety, copyrights, and illegal downloads. Overall, ch.1 discusses the overall view of why technology is important and how it is evolving each and every day.
The Top Ten issues shaping today’s technology uses in education:
1. Accountability and the standards movement
2. Funding for educational technology
3. The digital divide
4. Racial and gender equity
5. The role of distance education
6. Privacy and safety
7. Viruses and hacking
8. Online plagiarism
9. Anti-technology sentiments
10. Information privacy
There are four perspectives that define educational technology. Each of these groups has emerged from a different area of education, and each has a unique outlook on what educational technology is, and each defines it in a slightly different way. For a summarization go to table 1.1 on pg. 7
1. Educational technology as media and audiovisual communications:
2. Educational technology as instructional systems and instructional design:
3. Educational technology as vocational training:
4. Educational technology as computer systems:’
I also agree that it is important to know why we use technology and how it can help people. It is easier for people to go to school and not have to worry about going to campus. But there are some major downsides with technology and they can be very annoying. The worst thing about technology is when it does not work and you have to get it fixed. I think that it is also important that education uses technology and that they can benefit from using it.
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