MEANING AND DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY
It is usually observed that it is neither capital investment nor increased workforce but technology which holds the key to development and growth-economic and educational.
Before we consider the meaning and significance of educational technology it will be desirable to mention in brief the concept of technology itself.
Naughton J. (1986) argues in his book Technology in Schools that technology can be considered in two ways-technology as things and technology as social process.
Technology of things' is the application of scientific knowledge to practical tasks by organisations that involve in 2 M's-men and machines.
"Technology of social process' is the application of scientific and other organised knowledge to practical tasks by hierarichically ordered systems that involve men and machines.
So, technology is not only the 'tool' for the development of science but also the 'change' in the social process.
The word 'technology' is derived from the Greek work technic meaning art or skill and logia' meaning science or study. Thus technology is the science of study of an art or skill.
Following are some of the important definitions of technology. Hierra, A. (1973): Technology is the set of instruments and skills
which are used to satisfy the needs of the community. (In Techno-logical Creation as an Expression.
Educational technology is concerned with all variables, phases, levels, and aspects of the teaching learning process. In brief, it works for overall planning and organization of the system or subsystem of education. The areas of its operation in education system is summarized below,
Analyse the Teaching Learning (T. L.) Process:
Educational technology tries to discuss the concept of teaching, analysis of the teaching process, variables of the teaching, phase of teaching, levels of teaching theories of teaching, principles and maxims of teaching, the concept of learning. relevance of the theories, the relationship between teaching and learning
Identify the Educational Goals or Objectives:
Educational technology tries to discuss the topics such as identification of education needs and aspirations of the community, survey of the resources available for satisfaction of these needs.
Educational technology is concerned with the designing of a suitable curriculum for the achievement of the educational objectives.
Development of Teaching-Learning Material: Educational technology is concerned with the production and development of the suitable teaching learning material in view of stipulated objectives, design curriculum and available resources.
Teaching Preparation or Teaching-Training:
Teacher is a key figure in any process of teaching and learning Educational technology, therefore tries for the proper preparations of teachers for exercising their complex responsibilities.
Development and Selection of Teaching-Learning Strategies:
This aspect deals with the central problems of teaching learning act. Here educational technology tries to describe the ways and discovering, selecting and developing suitable strategies and tactics of teaching.
Development, Selection and Use of Appropriate Audio-Visual Aids:
Teaching-learning is greatly influenced and benefited by the use of appropriate audio-visual aids. Educational technology covers this aspect by discussing various types of audio-visual aids used for educational purposes, their proper selection suitable to a particular teaching-learning situation.
Effective Utilization of Hardware and Mass Media:
Various sophisticated instruments, equipment, gadget and communication devices brought through mechanization and electronics revolution playing an effective role in the attainment of educational objectives by helping the teachers and learners in their respective roles.
Work for the Effective Utilization of Subsystem of Education:
Educational technology considers the education system operating, in a systematic and scientific way, for the achievement of educational objectives.
Provide Essential Feedback and Control Through Evaluation.
SCOPE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Scope of educational technology is as wide as education itself. Its scope ranges from the concrete educational process to the most abstract and subtle ones. It includes the use of hardware and software and systems analysis in various educational operations. The possibility of using educational technology in almost all areas of education has been and is being explored. These are three major areas in education in which its scope is very wide. These are:
(1) Technology related to general educational administration and management.
(2) Technology related to general educational testing.
(3) Technology related to the instructional process.
Rowntra (1973) has stated the following as the province of educational technologists:
1. Identifying aims and objectives of learning.
2. Planning the learning environment.
3. Exploring and structuring the subject matter.
4. Selecting appropriate teaching strategies and learning media.
5. Evaluating the effectiveness of the learning system.
6. Using the insights gained from evaluation to improve their effectiveness for the future.
Important areas which should comprise educational technology are as under:
1. Concept and various facets of educational technology.
2. Teaching-learning process.
3. Individualised instructional technology.
4. Programmed learning.
5. teaching models.
6. Learning theories.
7. Multimedia approach to teaching.
8. Mathetics.
9. Cybernetics.
10. Task analysis.
11. Modules.
12. Systems approach
Basic Components of Educational Technology (Hardware and Software) Concepts and Significance
Concept:
The educational technology is composed of mainly two components such as hardware and software. Both hardware and software are equally important for effective application of educational technology. For example, an interactive computer programme is worthless without a suitable educational programme. Both hardware and software are complementary to each other.
Hardware Approach: Hardware in education refers to electronic gadgets that are based on scientific principles and procedures. It is founded on the concept of service and has its roots in Physical Sciences and Applied Engineering. It follows a product-oriented strategy. It deals with the creation and use of audio-visual aids (such as charts, models, slides, filmstrips, audio cassettes, and so on). sophisticated instruments and gadgets (such as radio, television, films, projectors, tape recorders, video players, teaching machines, computers, and so on), and mass media. For its operation, Hardware Technology makes use of Software Technology's goods (such as teaching methodologies, instructional learning material, and so on) Hardware technology has the ability to make educational benefits more accessible and affordable to the general public. Too much use of technical gadgets may mechanize the process of teaching-learning as the Hardware approach tries to enter education from outside, operating more in isolation.
The hardware approach refers to the use of machines and other mechanical devices in the process of education. Its origin lies in the application of "physical science" to the education and training system. The process of teaching-learning has been gradually mechanized through the use of teaching machines, radio, television, tape recorder, video-tape, projectors etc. The teacher can deal with a larger group of students at the same time by his discourse through these machines. The hardware approach is based on the application of engineering principles for developing electro-mechanical equipment for instructional purposes. Motion pictures, tape recorders, television, teaching machines, and computers are called educational hardware. Hardware approach mechanises the process of teaching so that teachers would be able to deal with more students with less expenditures in educating them.
Human knowledge has three aspects:
Preservation, Transmission and Development.
The history of preservation of knowledge is believed to exist since the printing machines started. The knowledge is preserved with these machines in the form of books which are shelved in the libraries, tape recorders and films. The second aspect of human knowledge is its transmission. A teacher can impart knowledge himself to his pupils. Nowadays, transmission of knowledge is supported by machines like mike, radio and television. With these, thousands of pupils can enjoy this home-delivery of such benefits. The third aspect of human knowledge is its development. For this aspect, provisions are made for research work. In the research programmes, the main function is the collection and analysis of data. For this purpose, presently the researcher uses the electronic machines and computers. Hence, all the three aspects of knowledge allow the use of machines. In short, the teaching process has been mechanized. The mechanization of teaching process is termed as the Hardware Approach.
Basis of Hardware Approach:
Hardware Approach has physical science and applied engineering as its basis.
Hardware Approach has mechanised the whole teaching-learning process Hardware Approach adopts a Product-oriented approach.
Software
To solve educational difficulties, software refers to a systematic, scientific application of appropriate scientific research from physical science, social science such as psychology and sociology, philosophy, management studies, and other fields. Teaching technology, instructional technology, and behaviour technology are all terms used to describe it. It has its roots in behavioural sciences and applied parts of learning psychology. It's a method based on processes. It makes use of understanding of learning psychology to create learning materials, teaching learning tactics, and other (Software Technology) for the improvement of the teaching-learning process. It does not provide users with direct services. Rather, it aids in the creation of numerous software resources that are employed in the development of hardware appliances. It contains instructional strategies, learning materials, evaluation tools, teaching models, programmed instruction, etc. Software technology does not require any aid from the hardware technology for its delivery. It becomes more useful and productive when assisted by the Hardware Technology Software technology does not have mass appeal and is costlier in the long run, as compared to hardware technology.
The pioneering work in software approach was done by Skinner and other behaviourists. The programmes which such a technology produces are often called Software Approach is also termed as Instructional Technology or Teaching Technology or Behavioural Technology. It originates from behavioural sciences and their applied aspects concerning psychology of learning. The software approach used the principles of psychology for building in the learners a complex repertory of knowledge or modifying his behaviour Psychology of learning provides solid technology for bringing desirable behavioural changes in the pupils and serves the cause of education of laying down definite instructional procedure, teaching behaviour and behaviour modification devices. Newspapers, books, magazines, educational games, flash cards may also form part of software. Software approach is characterised by task analysis, writing precise objectives, selection of appropriate learning strategies, immediate reinforcement of responses and constant evaluation.
Software approach refers to the application of teaching- learning principles to the direct & deliberate shaping of behavior. Its origin lies in the application of "behavior science to the problems of learning & motivation.
Educational technology is closely associated with the modern principles & theories of teaching. Models of teaching, theory of instruction, theory of teacher-behavior & principles of programmed learning. It is characterized by task analysis, writing, objectives in behavioral terms, selection of the appropriate teaching strategies, reinforcement for correct responses & continuous evaluation.
Software Approach is concerned with teaching objectives in behavioural terms, principles of teaching, methods of teaching, reinforcement of instructional system, feedback, reviews and evaluation. Software approach tries to develop all the three basic components of technology, ie Input, Process and Output.
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