Educational technology

Educational technology is the use of technology to improve education. It is a systematic, iterative process for designing instruction or training used to improve performance. Educational technology is sometimes also known as instructional technology or learning technology.

The meanings of the words educational and technology in the phrase educational technology are the general ones. These words are often used in a more restrictive sense, educational referring to processes for the imparting of knowledge, skill, and judgement in children, technology referring to high technology, in particular information technology (IT). The particular case of the meaningful use of high-technology to enhance learning in K-12 classrooms and higher education is known as technology integration.

History
One of the earliest disciplines of educational technology was instructional systems design (ISD). This was used by the United States military at the time of World War Two, in order to train large numbers of people more effectively. In a common ISD model, the ADDIE Model, the steps involved are: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation.

Theories and practices
The Encyclopedia of Educational Technology places the theories and practices of educational technology into six categories: cognition and learning, analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation.

Cognition and learning
Cognition and learning is about the mechanisms by which people process information.

See also: Active learning, Andragogy, Bloom's taxonomy, Cooperative learning, E-learning, Habituation, Sleep-learning, Metacognition, Overlearning, Operant conditioning, Situated learning, Observational learning, Zone of proximal development

Analysis
Analysis is the use of processes for gathering basic information needed for the design of a training programme. The results of analysis answer some basic questions: who?, what?, when? and where?

See also: Human Performance Technology

Design
Design is the use of information gained from analysis to create an outline training programme.

See also: Instructional Systems Design, ADDIE Model, Mind map, Distance education, SCORM, Blended learning, Mnemonic, Project Based Learning, Information mapping

Development
Development is the building of an outline training programme into a usable training programme.

See also: Assistive technology

Implementation
Implementation is the actual use of a completed training programme. Success relies heavily on the effectiveness of the trainer.

See also: Concept map, Technology Integration

Evaluation
Evaluation is the assessment of the effectiveness of all aspects of training programme development. The results are used to improve the programme.

See also: Computer-adaptive test, Rubrics (education), Usability testing

Societies and journals
Learned societies concerned with educational technology include:
 * Association for Learning Technology
 * Australian Society for Educational Technology

Journals on the subject of educational technology include:
 * ALT-J - Research in Learning Technology
 * Australasian Journal of Educational Technology
 * Educational Technology & Society
 * International Journal of Educational Technology
 * Tech Learning