Educational technology is exactly what it sounds like. It is the study and usage of technology in order to improve education. Below is an overview of this topic and how it benefits people around the globe.
What Is It?
Educational technology encompasses many areas of technologically-based learning. For example, educational media can involve audio, visual and interactive materials that aid in student learning. It also includes hardware, software, mobile apps and other systems that aid in things such as curriculum development, training management and educational information management. Someone who works in this field is known as an educational technologist. They are responsible for designing, developing and implementing educational tech as well as analyzing existing systems and methods of learning. The ultimate goal of any kind of educational technology is to make learning faster, easier, cheaper and more accurate for both students and teachers.
In The Classroom
Educational technology is primarily used in classrooms to aid educators and students in learning. Technology can make it easier for students who learn differently or have learning disabilities to understand subject matter and remain up to date in the curriculum. It makes education easier by allowing students to access lecture notes, which can improve information retention. This is because students can be more likely to listen to the lecture than trying to frantically scribble down notes when they can access the slides later. This also helps students who had to miss class for any particular reason and makes it easier for them to catch up on what they missed. Online learning has become such a major sector of the education field that many college degrees and programs for high school students such as GED completion are now offered wholly online.
In A Professional Setting
Educational technology is not only used in the classroom. It is also used by professionals to train employees as well as provide continuing education to their workers. Professionals may choose to utilize educational technology on their own time to learn more about their professions. Most employers understand how important initial employee training is when a new staff member is hired. Technology greatly aids this process and helps free up the employees doing the training to focus more time and effort on their regular jobs. Continuing education is a huge part of many industries, and many companies provide continuing education resources to their own employees to cultivate a stronger workforce. Using educational technology, whether webinars, online courses, remote consulting or other technologies, makes continuing education both cheaper and more convenient. Educational technology can help employees learn more about topics as varied as budget management to database management.
Other Settings
Educational technology has its use in other settings as well. Educational technology has become increasingly important in the healthcare field, for example. Thanks to technology, doctors teach people around the world information about their conditions, treatments and health profiles as noted by the Optometry Times. It can also find a use in government as a way for lobbyists to inform elected officials about certain topics or as a method for government employees to educate the general public.
Related Resource: Top 50 Best Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction 2018
Beyond a doubt, technology will play an important role in the future of education. Business executives, consultants and teachers alike rely on it for success. It is worth remaining up to date on current educational technology as well as what it will offer in the future.
