Educational technology is a systematic application of relevant technological
processes and resources in teaching, with a goal to improve students’
performance. It involves a disciplined approach to identifying the needs of
students, applying technology in instructions, and tracking their performance.
Many people are wondering: what do you mean by educational
technology?
There
are many definitions concepts mainly because every educator implements technology in a unique way.
If we tried to come up with a simple definition, the one we presented above
would be it.
First of all, EdTech is a systematic approach.
It’s an educator cannot pick random tools and use them with random goals in the
classroom. There still is a curriculum to follow.
Second,Relevant technological
processes and resources. This means that the processes
and resources must be relevant to the curriculum goals and milestones. EdTech
also has a purpose: to improve the performance of the students. Every tool and
method that’s being introduced in the classroom should be driven by that goal.
Finally, EdTech also requires
the educator to have a disciplined approach to revealing the needs of the
students. Those needs will help them determine the relevant technology to apply
in the classroom.
Why
Is Technology Important in Education?
Now that we got a clear
definition of the concept, let’s focus on another angle: what is the importance of technology in
education? There are multiple reasons why all teachers should start
introducing tech tools into their classrooms. Let’s list few of them.
Testing
Went Online
It’s a protocol that you, as a teacher, can’t control. Your students will
take standardized tests that demand proper computer skills. Online testing has tons of advantages. The students can see their scores in real-time, and it’s easier
for the teachers to track their performance.When you start introducing
fun online tests in the classroom, you’ll be preparing your students for the
standardized tests. They will get used to the environment, so they won’t be
overwhelmed by the big
tests when it’s time for them.
Technology Helps Students
Improve Their Results
The flipped classroom is a huge
educational trend. When the teacher introduces digital tools to be used outside
the classroom, they can use class time for evaluation, discussions, and
interactions that matter. They can pay attention to every single student’s
achievements and they can personalize the educational process.
The teacher can use different
methods to capture the students’ attention and assess their progress. With that
approach, we can enhance the
learning process.
Collaboration!
That’s another huge advantage.
Some of the best ways to enhance
the collaboration between students in the classroom are hands-on projects and
collaborative learning. Technology supports those processes. The teachers can
create a safe online environment where the students can ask questions, discuss
different topics, and help each other learn. They can also collaborate on
projects without the need to get together outside the classroom. They can
connect online.
The collaboration between
teachers gets easy, too. Thanks to educational technology, we can learn from
the experience of educators from all over the world.

