Roles & Functions of Educational Technology

Student-centered instruction breaks the traditional way of teaching.

Instead of passively receiving information, the students would gather information their own, under the guidance of the teacher.

In this classroom model, the teacher would act as a facilitator for the students.

1. Instruction should be student-centered

Collaborative learning is a method of teaching and learning in which students make a team or group to explore significant questions and sharing their ideas and thoughts.

In this small group they can learn to respect to every member, projects and questions interest that challenge students, and all contributions are valued.

2. Education should be collaborative

The teacher can make a point of helping students to understand how the skills they are building can be applied in their lives. Students will be much more motivated to learn something that they can see the value in. Since we are no longer preparing students for specific tasks and roles, we need to take a more general approach and teach them the skills that are useful in any situation. Lessons have little purpose if they do not have any impact in a student’s life outside of the school.

3. Learning should have context

1. Improvement of Teaching- Educational Technology analyses

the process of teaching thoroughly. It tries to find out the different variables of teaching, their interlinks, effects upon each other, relationships, theories of teaching, maxims of teaching etc. By developing the theories of teaching, it helps in improving the quality education.

Important functions of Educational Technology

2. Analysis of the Teaching-Learning Process- Educational Technology aims at

analyzing the process of teaching-learning thoroughly. It tries to find out the different variables of teaching their interlinks effects upon each other, relationship etc. It also concerned with various phases of teaching. The principles of teaching and the maxims of teaching are also evaluated by it. Over all, it tries to establish the better relationship between teaching and learning.

3. Improvement of Learning- Educational Technology analyses the

process of learning and the related theories. It facilitates more and more of learning in less time. It takes the help of various empirically established generalizations from psychology, sociology, physical sciences, engineering etc.

4. Enhancing Goals of Education- The objectives of education are being

reviewed and revised with the passage of time. Educational technology helps in finding out the right objectives. Everything in this universe is undergoing tremendous changes and with a very fast speed. Educational Technology helps in enhancing the right objectives in the light of the changed circumstances and changed environment.

5. Training to Teachers- The changed type of environment

with new curriculum and new materials is to be handled by the teachers. Right type of training to the teachers is the need of the hour. Educational Technology can render its valuable help in the training of teachers also.

6. Development of Curriculum- Keeping in view the objectives of

education, which have been finalized by the education technology thereafter, comes the question of developing right type of curriculum. Only a suitable type of a curriculum will help in the attainment of goals.

- Curriculum is the total teaching-learning environment, has to be modified and remodeled in the light of latest thoughts. Educational technology can do this job of developing a suitable curriculum appropriately.

7. Development of Teaching-Learning Materials

- Teaching-learning materials are also as important as anything else in the teaching-learning process. They have to be in accordance with the environment of the learners. In this age of science and technology, the materials of teaching cannot be unscientific. Everything in the society including values of life need be reflected the materials. Only right type of materials will able to modify the behavior of the learner suitably making him a fit person for the society.

8. Teaching-Learning Strategies- A strategy plays an important role in

the hands of a teacher in every teaching-learning situation. The strategy has to be the right one , which should be according to the materials and is able to bring about effective teaching learning. The different strategies are being evolved by educational technology. The knowledge of those strategies is a must for every teacher.

9. Development of Audio-Visual Aids- Audio-visual aids have always played

an important role in the teaching-learning process. They need be used according the times. The software aids, the hardware aids, the computer and other such appliances, equipment etc., have “to be used in the present type of teaching-learning environment.”

10. Help in Overall Improvements- Educational technology helps in

locating the problems in the different areas of education. It is also helps in remedying the draw-backs. Evaluation of the teaching-learning process is also made better because through feedback, things are improved thoroughly and there is better control over the process of education. Thus, educational technology can revolutionize the whole process of teaching learning.

11. Identification of Needs of the Community- Educational technology identifies the

needs of the community. It helps in providing equal education opportunities to backward people, disadvantaged students and deprived sections of the society. Educational Technology aims in identifying needs of the community from time to time. Then it tries to improve the community in every possible way.