Education and Technology

Education is very important in our life nowadays and technology has significant influenced in the education. Therefore in the view of most writers, researchers, and practitioners in the field, useful definitions of educational technology must focus both on the process of applying tools for educational purposes and the tools and materials used. As Muffoletto (1994) puts it, "Technology. . . is not a collection of machines and devices, but a way of acting.

Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.

As a field, educational technology emphasizes communication skills and approaches to teaching and learning through the judicious use and integration of diverse media. Scholars in the field examine the uses of innovative media and technologies for education, examining all aspects from direct student learning to management and impacts on institutions. As in all forms of applied technology, the field studies how theoretical knowledge and scientific principles can be applied to problems that arise in a social context.

Practitioners in educational technology seek new and effective ways of organizing the teaching and learning process through the best possible application of technological developments. These activities rely upon a body of knowledge for successful and ethical implementation, rather than routine tasks or isolated technical skills.

Advances in technology are enabling dramatic changes in education content, delivery, and accessibility.  Throughout history, new technologies have facilitated the exponential growth of human knowledge.  In the early twentieth century, the focus was on the use of radios in education.  But since then, innovators have seen technology as a way to improve communication, learning, and the mastery of instructional material.

The next generation of education technologies is facilitating substantial change.  Education technologies are evolving beyond lecture and group work to games, simulations, and augmented reality. Software is creating environments where students can direct the creation of their own knowledge with nearly invisible prompts from teachers.

One possible virtue of digital technology is the cost savings.  During the Great Recession, the education service industry lost over one million jobs. State and local governments cut education spending, and this had ripple effects throughout the sector.  Today educators from universities to elementary schools face an even more difficult task than before with fewer available resources.  Given the political climate of budget cutting, the likelihood of a restoration of funding to pre-recession levels in the near future is low.  In this situation, educational technologies take on increased importance as they seek to help over-burdened teachers deploy the next generation of assistive technologies.