Roles and Functions of Educational Technology in 21st Century

By: Milette Baliber

Change is constant and in order to educate in the 21st century, teachers and administrators need to cultivate and maintain the student's interest in the material by showing how this knowledge applies in the real world. They must also try to increase their student's curiosity, which will help them become lifelong learners. Next they should be flexible with how they teach and give learners the resources to continue learning outside of school.

Creating a 21st century education system is about making sure that all students are prepared to succeed in a competitive world a world with plenty of opportunities for highly skilled individuals and limited options for everyone.

Instruction should be student-centered

It is no longer about listening to the teacher talk and absorbing the information. Students will need to be able to acquire new information as problems arise. Then, they will need to connect the new information with the knowledge they already have and apply it to solving the problem at hand. They will be able to have ‘learned how to learn’ on their own.

Education should be

collaborative

Students must learn how to collaborative with others. Learners should be encouraged to work together to discover information, piece it together, and construct meaning. They should learn how to recognize the different strengths and talents each person can bring to a project, and change roles depending on those attributes.

Learning should have context

All learning must be placed in the learners context if it is to have meaning. While students are encouraged to learn in different ways, the teacher still provides guidance as to the skills that need to be acquired. There is actually no such thing as "new" knowledge. In order to acquire new information, the brain must place it in the context of something that is already known. You can’t learn what you don’t already know.

The Role of Technology in 21st Century Learning

1. Technology allows for 24/7 access to information

2. Constant social interaction, and

3. Easily created and share digital content.

Important functions of Educational

Technology

Improvement of

Teaching

Analysis of the Teaching-Learning

Process

Improvement of

Learning

Enhancing Goals of

Education

Training to

Teachers

Development of

Curriculum

Development of Teaching-Learning

Materials

Teaching-Learning Strategies

Development of

Audio-Visual Aids

Help in

Overall Improvement

Identification of Needs of the Community

Projected Media

Projected visuals are defined as media formats in which text and still images are enlarged and displayed on an illuminated screen. The text and images are usually printed on a transparent film such as an overhead transparency or a slide. The printed material is projected onto a screen or wall by passing a strong light through the film and magnifying this onto a light coloured screen (whiteboard or white wall).

Overhead Projections

These are transparencies or slides that are prepared from copy and are shown on a screen. An overhead projector is a device, which throws a transparency image on a screen.

Here are some tips and rules to be aware of in using the Overhead

Projector:

1. Practice giving your presentation using your visual aids

2. Stand off to one side of the overhead projector while you face the audience

3. Do not face the ”projected” image on the screen

4. Cover the transparency when you are done using it

5. Bring a spare bulb!

6. Place the overhead to your RIGHT if you are right handed and to your LEFT if you are left handed

7. Place your overhead projector on a table

8. Place your screen on a diagonal instead of directly behind you.

9. Tape the power chord to the floor – to protect you or someone else from tripping.

10. Store your overhead transparencies in a sturdy box or container so they will stay clean and protected for the next time you need them.

Technology is not the solution to 21st century education, technology is simply a tool to aid education and learning, also technology should not be told as a separate schools subject, but as a tool, technology should be used in all classrooms. Any learning concerning technology should be based around the theme and objectives of the class.