The Meaning of Technology for Teaching and Learning

 Niño Estolas, M.Ed.

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Technology for teaching and learning is a planned, methodical approach to achieving predetermined goals.

A procedure or product could be one of the desired outcomes. This could apply to any legitimate and trustworthy procedure that results from fundamental study utilizing the scientific method in order to pave the way for discoveries, inventions, or innovations that will meet educational demands or preferences for teaching and learning.

Technology for teaching and learning is a complicated, integrated process that encompasses individuals, rules, concepts, and organizations for creating, putting into practice, evaluating, and managing solutions to problems in all dimensions of human learning. 

It includes instructional strategies that consistently engage students, like cognitive learning strategies and critical thinking skills, as well as designs and environments that support learning. Others may characterize technology education as an investigation into how educational resources and procedures are used with the ultimate goal of improving learning. Any practice that is used to manage the institutions that make up the educational enterprise is referred to as using technology in education.

The use of instructional technology is a methodical approach to planning, carrying out, and assessing the entire process of teaching and learning in terms of predetermined goals.

When learning technologies are used, skills are introduced, reinforced, supplemented, and extended it is technology integration. While books, periodicals, newspapers, radio, television, computers, and other communication tools or channels that can be used for instruction fall under the category of educational media.

Technology in Education

There are a lot of technology in education. To keep track of what is changing and what isn’t, we must know where to look.

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The majority of teachers in today’s schools have been hesitant to adapt their teaching methods despite the advent of new technologies. Concerns regarding digital distractions, how usage of and access to technology may widen achievement gaps, and other issues have been raised by teachers and parents.

New technologies are seen by many in the ed-tech sector as useful tools that could assist schools in meeting the expectations of student populations that are diversifying at an increasing rate. A variety of previously unimaginable alternatives for customizing instruction to each student’s particular academic strengths and weaknesses, interests and motivations, personal preferences, and other factors are thought to be available.

Nowadays, many schools either provide students with state-owned computers or enable them to bring their own from home. The goal is to give students access to learning “24/7” at their desired time and place. Assignments are distributed, timetables and communications are managed, and student progress is tracked using learning management systems, student information systems, and other software.

Moreover, educational software and applications have become more “adaptive,” using technology and algorithms to assess a student’s knowledge, learning process, and even emotional condition. Implementation still poses a significant challenge despite all the technology advancement.

Schools and teachers across the globe continue to struggle with the evolving role of teachers, how to balance adaptable and “personalized” models with the state and federal accountability requirements they still need to meet, and the more difficult cultural challenge of changing educators’ deeply embedded habits and routines.

Despite the significant investments that many school systems are making, the evidence that digital personalized learning can improve student outcomes or narrow achievement gaps is still lacking.

Instructional Technology

As time goes on and technology advances, schools are adjusting to new developments by becoming more adept at integrating instructional technology into teaching.

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It’s crucial that teachers understand digital platforms and make the most of them in order to properly comprehend these new types of learning. 

Using a combination of human and nonhuman resources, instructional technology is a systematic technique to plan, carry out, and assess the total learning and teaching process in terms of specified objectives. It suggests that the production, selection, utilization, and management processes are designed in a systematic manner.

Whether or not they entail the use of media, it involves practical methods for delivering teaching that continuously aim for successful learning. The application of these well-known and established practices in the planning and delivery of instruction is one of the main objectives of educational technology.

The use of various forms of digital technology, such as the internet, web-based programs, computing tools, online curricula, and more, to promote and improve student learning in the classroom is known as instructional technology. All teaching staff members across the school system must be properly trained and equipped if technology is to be successfully integrated into the classroom.

It is clear from examining the characteristics of instructional technology listed above that there are recurring themes, which are:

1.       Behavioral and cognitive sciences are the source of instructional technology.

2.      The use of instructional technology is methodical.

3.      The learning process is prioritized by instructional technology.

4.      The development of effective instruction is the goal of instructional technology.

Educational Media

Educational media, sometimes known as “educational tech,” is the use of apps and technological tools for teaching and learning.

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Education technology can occur inside or outside of the classroom, at any time, and anywhere.

The majority of contemporary educational technology requires the usage of a wireless internet connection and a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. With the use of technology, anyone may learn—whether there are one or five million students— and participate in the same classes.

The learning environments in edtech might be one-dimensional or include numerous learners throughout a piece of content, either in the same location or in various locations.

For example, a research-based teaching strategies may use in edtech. 

These educational philosophies include:

1.       cognitivism, which employs technology to test students’ understanding;

2.      constructivism, which enables teachers to use technology to ensure that students’ information, work, and assignments are appropriately leveled and include problem-based learning; and

3.      social constructivism, which employs technology to let students explore real-world scenarios and assess their problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and collaborating abilities.

Edtech is not a new idea. Teachers have been coming up with methods to help students understand concepts without only using words for thousands of years. Only “edtech” is a new term. We are currently imagining new methods to incorporate technology into the teaching and learning process into upcoming years.

Technology is a system that people have developed for a particular use and it can be seen as a means of acquiring knowledge. As a result, technology is a way of using tools, processes, or specific systems to carry out actions that cater to human requirements.

Technology is not a trend; rather, it is the way that education is moving at almost all levels.

Technology offers teachers a variety of tools in addition to materials like textbooks and worksheets to aid pupils in comprehending the subject matter better. Since every student learns differently, using a variety of teaching techniques raises the chances that every student will understand the principles you are trying to teach them.

Technology enables teachers to fit any learning style, whether students learn best through lectures, reading, examples, or video. Students can learn at their own speed by accessing interactive online games, online movies, audiobooks, and more. Also, you and your students can simply obtain the latest knowledge because internet content is frequently updated.

In a traditional way, usually the teacher would present information on a subject while standing in the front of the room and the students in this format are passive audience members. 

On the other hand, students that use technology in the classroom are more engaged with the lessons being taught.

References:

• Atherton, P. (2018). 50 Ways to use technology enhanced learning in the classroom: Practical strategies for teaching. SAGE.
• Buhler, L. (2023). What is Instructional Technology? Retrieved from
• Corpuz, B. & Lucido, P. (2008). Educational Technology I. Lorimar Publishing, Quezon City, Philippines
• Hidalgo, A. & Hidalgo, L.C. (1998). Principles of Teaching and Educational Technology. National Bookstore Inc., Quezon City, Philippines
• Lynch, M. (2020). A 2022 DEFINITION OF EDTECH.
• Newby, T.J., Stepich, D.A., Lehman, & J.D. (2019). Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning. Lorimar Publishing Inc., Quezon City, Philippines
• Tesoro, H. A. (2017). Educational Technology in teaching and learning. Arcler Press
• Wah, C. S. K. (2020). Social Media Tools In Experiential Internship Learning. Springer.

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