The history of Educational Technology

Benedetti Ludmila

Nappi Daiana

• Software

• Hardware

• Internet applications

• Activities.

The study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.

It includes, but is not limited to:

History of Educational Technology

The first ones to manage instructional media were school museums.

Their purpose was to collect and loan:

• portable museum exhibits

• films

• photographs

• charts

• stereographic slides, etc

Some of the reasons :

First decade of XX century: silent films for instructional use.

They never reached the level of influence in schools that had been predicted.

• Teachers' lack of skill in using equipment and film

• The cost of films, equipment, and upkeep

• Inaccessibility of equipment when it was needed

• The time involved in finding the right film for each class

Films

Radio

• Schools

• Colleges

• Commercial stations

• Departments of education

1920 : commercial and educational stations

Soon, radio programming provided by:

Efforts to promote radio instruction in schools were abandoned when television became available.

Television1950s and the 1960s: Instructional television was the focus of attention. Because:

• There were 242 television channels for educational purposes

• The Ford Foundation’s investment (more than $170 million) in educational television.

→ rapid development of educational television stations→ Aim: To provide instructional programs to school system in their viewing area.

1970s: much of the enthusiasm: exhausted

ComputersThe earliest work (1950 and 1960) had little impact on schools

1980s → microcomputers → Educators and public officials became enthusiastic

1983 → 40% of elementary schools and 75% of secondary schools (US)

However → Students had only limited access to computers

Technologies used in traditional classrooms

Computer in the classroom

Class website

Class blogs and wikis

Wireless classroom microphones

Mobile devices

SmartBoards

Online media

Digital games

Podcasts

Benefits

Easy-to-access course materials

Student motivation

Wide participation

Improved student writing

Subjects made easier to learn

Differentiated instruction

DrawbacksLack of proper training

Limited access to sufficient quantities of a technology

Extra time required

→ Tecnhology is the means, not the goal

→ Teachers also need an alternative lesson

Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_technology

(Revised on April, 19th, 2011), “Educational technology” [online]. Retrieved on April, 19th, 2011

http://www.answers.com/topic/school-technology-in-education

“School Technology in Education” [online]. Retrieved on April, 12th, 2011