Once I received this question I began to process what was being asked, and it took me a while to actually come up with an answer. However, I feel that the following is a decent definition of Instructional Technology.
Instructional Technology is the process in which one can explain or deliver information to someone else by using technology. This information can come in many forms such as word documents, text messages, PowerPoint presentations, interactive materials such as Smart Boards or even overhead projectors. Instructional Technology can be used in all walks of life from education to corporate business. Anytime someone needs to communicate with someone else and they use technology they are taking part in Instructional Technology.
In schools there are a number of ways a teacher, student, or administrator can use Instructional Technology. There are common examples such as Smart Boards, projectors, computers, etc. I am not sure if this is common in schools K-12, but I have been in schools where courses are done through web TV. It was a high school in which I did my student teaching, there was a staff member who watched the class for discipline issues, but a professor at the local community college taught the course. I don't know if the concept became popular, maybe some of you have heard of that, but I found it interesting. This course is another example of how instructional technology has transformed. It will be interesting to see the advancements of technology and how information can be delivered to individuals in the future.
On a side note, we live in the technology age so when technology is mentioned we think, or at least I think of electronic equipment. However there is no mention of electronic equipment in the definition of technology. Therefore, other forms of instructional technology could come from oral stories, pen and paper, paintings; anything that allows someone to instruct someone else.
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7 comments:
You are right! The definition of technology does NOT involve media! We will talk more about this issue in our upcoming Media and Methods lesson.
One of the better definitions in our class. Is this your first course in this area?
I think you did a great job of being very inclusive in your definition.
When I was in high school, I remember a class being taught by a teacher via satellite. I do not think it was very successful and I am not sure if my high school continued with that practice. I believe that when a school or business decides to try something new, they must be ready to evaluate the effectiveness of the instruction.
I think I finally have the understanding that IDT is the process, not the media or the technology. Reading about ADDIE really helped.
I find the concept of teacher via satellite or even online very interesting. While it seems this did not fly years ago, it is very popular now. I wonder if this is because we are more comfortable without the human element in the digital age (i.e. texting, instant messaging, chat rooms, etc.) I was watching a lecture on the the evolution of YouTube and a point was made that while our society has become more and more individualized due to technology, the desire for community has become even greater. I wonder what this class would be like without the ability to comment on each other's blog or without the discussion board? I might have to pass.
Speaking from the corporoate perspective, the expenses associated with business travel has certainly forced satellite and online learning to the forefront.
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