Instructional Technology – take 1
First of all, as I try to find a few, well chosen, concise, and all encompassing words to describe “Instructional Technology” – I find it very difficult. The more I think about it the bigger instructional technology seems to be. I guess I would have to start by saying that when I think of instructional technology, the first word that comes to my mind is “resources”. I also think of all of the people who are involved with instruction and how instructional technology benefits them: from administrators, to instructors, to students and at least in elementary education I would include parents. Instructional technology provides a multitude of resources for more effectively providing instruction, such as tools for: research, planning, assessing, evaluating, analyzing, instructing, organizing, and collaborating…to name a few. Let’s not forget how readily accessible all of these resources are through technology.
Instructional technology supports educators and students as it includes many different means for delivering instruction and demonstrating understanding. A few examples are: making instruction more interesting and engaging; providing the means to prepare and deliver instruction effectively; allowing for responsive/interactive opportunities to practice what has been taught; allowing for creative expression of ideas and understanding of curriculum; selecting and using different methods and tools; providing access to manipulatives and multiple ways of viewing things that wouldn’t otherwise be possible in a classroom; and providing access to unlimited resources in a minimal amount of time. Instructional technology can provide the means for instructors and students to be creative and resourceful in meeting their objectives.
Finally, I wouldn’t want to leave out the benefits of the communication tool provided through Instructional Technology. Valuable communication occurs within a particular educational community, but communication is also possible with the world outside this community (right in the comfort of your own school). Instructional technology opens so many doors!
on October 2nd, 2007 at 11:03 am
I would agree that is difficult to define Instructional Technology. Resources is a good term that can encompass all that is Instructional Services – tools, people, hardware, software etc. I like how you emphasized communication as part of Instructional Technology because without our Instructional Technology resources we could not be as efficient or responsive in this day and age.