Educational Technology (FCE3401) Overview

Course Information

• Course Title: Educational Technology (FCE3401)
• University: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Learning Outcomes

• Define and elaborate the principles and domains of educational technology
• Differentiate between digital and non-digital technology

Technology vs. Educational Technology

• Technology is defined as the art or science of using tools to achieve a purpose.
• A latin word 'TEXERE' which means to build, weave, create, construct.
• Technology and Educational Technology are not the same.

Key Definitions & Principles of Educational Technology

• A complex process encompassing people, tools, equipment, hardware, software, and organization focused on analyzing and solving learning problems (AECT, 1972).
• The study and ethical practice of creating, using, and managing appropriate technologies to help enhance learning (cited in Definition & Terminology Committee, AECT, 2004).
• Designing, adapting, customizing, implementing, testing, deploying and evaluating resources, activities, and learning & instructional tools that enhance learning, performance and teaching (Huang, Spector & Yang, 2019).

Domains of Educational Technology

• Design: Specifying conditions for learning.
• Development: Translating design specifications into physical form.
• Utilization: Using processes and resources for learning.
• Management: Controlling instructional technology though planning, preparation, coordination and supervision of resource centers.
• Evaluation: Determining the adequacy of instruction.

Domain 1: Design

• Instructional system design is a process for determining the components, features and requirements for learning.
• Four main areas within design are: instructional system design, message design, instructional strategy, and learners' characteristics.

Domain 1 Area 1: Instructional System Design

• System design is a process for analyzing, designing, building, implementing and evaluating instructional materials, lesson units, courses, or curricula to improve student learning and teacher teaching.

Domain 1 Area 2: Message Design

• Message design involves planning most effective ways and media forms to deliver messages to students.

Domain 1 Area 3: Instructional Strategies

• Instructional strategies involve selecting and organizing learning activities to reinforce the learning process.

Domain 1 Area 4: Analyze Student Characteristics

• Analyzing student characteristics, including skills, knowledge and attitudes, affects the learning process.

Domain 2: Development

• Development translates design specifications into a physical form of instructional materials, such as print, audio, computer, and multimedia.

Domain 3: Utilization

• Utilization is using instructional methods, models, media materials, and tools to improve the learning environment.

Domain 4: Evaluation

• Evaluation determines the teaching and learning process suitability and effectiveness of educational programs.
• Includes student achievement assessments, evaluation, and construction of teaching materials.
  • Assessment analysis of teaching problems: determining if instructional methods are compatible with the media and students.
  • Criterion-based assessment: establishing standards for assessment.
  • Formative assessment: in-process evaluation done continuously.
  • Summative assessment: overall assessment at the end of a session.

Domain 5: Management

• Management controls the instructional technology by planning, preparing, coordinating, and supervising of resource centers.
• This enables activities to be organized effectively for learning.

Roles of Educational Technology

• Increase the effectiveness and quality of teaching and learning.
• Overcome teaching and learning problems scientifically.
• Achieve the objectives of teaching and learning.
• Increase teachers' productivity.
• Support new teaching approaches.
• Relate students to the content under consideration.
• Motivate students

Digital vs. Non-Digital Technology

• Learning technologies are digital or non-digital media for enhancing learning through interactions between people and systems.
• Examples: Flash cards, mind maps, blogs, electronic dictionaries, web 2.0 tools, mobile apps, tablets, computers, etc.