Educational technology sometimes termed EdTech is the study
and ethical practice of facilitating e-learning, which is the learning and
improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological
processes and resources. The term educational technology is often associated
with, and encompasses, instructional theory and learning theory. While
instructional technology is "the theory and practice of design,
development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources
for learning," according to the Association for Educational Communications
and Technology Definitions and Terminology Committee, educational technology
includes other systems used in the process of developing human capability.
Educational technology includes, but is not limited to,
software, hardware, as well as Internet applications, such as wikis and blogs,
and activities. But there is still debate on what these terms mean. Technology
of education is most simply and comfortably defined as an array of tools that
might prove helpful in advancing student learning and may be measured in how
and why individuals behave. Educational Technology relies on a broad definition
of the word "technology."
Technology can refer to material objects of use to humanity,
such as machines or hardware, but it can also encompass broader themes,
including systems, methods of organization, and techniques. Some modern tools
include but are not limited to overhead projectors, laptop computers, and
calculators. Newer tools such as "smart phones" and games are
beginning to draw serious attention for their learning potential. Media
psychology is the field of study that applies theories in human behavior to
educational technology.
