ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATIONAL

TECHNOLOGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

EDUCATION

Our world is changing, and in order to prepare our children for this new world we need to change the way we educate them. • The term 21st century has become the central part of education thinking and planning for the future. Administrators and Teachers are actively searching for ways to prepare students for the future, and the educational system has been evolving faster than ever before.

A classroom no longer consists of four walls with a blackboard and a lecturer in front, talking to students instead of interacting with them.

Interactive whiteboards, tablet PCs, projectors and a host of other tools allow teachers to present information in ways that prompt discussion and collaboration.

I N P U T D E V I C E S

Technology, in one form or another, has always been part of the teaching and learning environment. It is part of the teacher’s professional toolbox. In other words, it is among the resources that teachers use to help facilitate student learning.

Instruction should be student- centered

• Students are directly involved and invested in the discovery of their own knowledge.

• In this classroom model, the teacher would act as facilitator for the students. Instead of passively receiving information, the students would gather information on their own, under the guidance of their teacher.

Education should be collaborative

• Student must learn how to collaborate with others. Through collaboration and cooperation with others, students engage in experiential learning that is authentic, holistic, and challenging.

Learning should have context

• Student-centered does not mean that the teacher gives up all control of the classroom. While students are encouraged to learn in different ways, the teacher still provides guidance as to the skills that need to be acquired.

 Learning should have context Student-centered does not mean that the teacher gives up all control of the classroom. While students are encouraged to learn in different ways, the teacher still provides guidance as to the skills that need to be acquired.

IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Improvement of Teaching

Education 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, phases of teaching principles of teaching, maxims of teaching etc. By developing the theories of teaching, it helps in improving the quality of education.

ANALYSIS OF THE TEACHING-

LEARNING PROCESS

Analysis of the Teaching- Learning Process

Education 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, relationships, etc. It also concerned with various phases of teaching.

IMPROVEMENT OF LEARNING

Educational technology analyses the process of learning and the related theories. It facilitates more and more of learning in less time. • Overhead initially served the purpose of entertaining children.

 ENHANCING GOALS OF EDUCATION

Education 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.

TRAINING TO TEACHERS 

The changed type of environment with new curriculum and new materials is to be handles by the teachers.

The use of a projector enables teachers to move more quickly through material, avoiding students and their questions by cutting out distractions and anything that may slow down the information progress.

 DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM

Keeping in view the objectives of education, which have been a new materials is to be handles by the teachers. Right type of question of developing right type of curriculum. Only a suitable curriculum will help in attainment of goals.

DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING- LEARNING

MATERIALS  

Teaching-learning materials are also as important as anything else in the teaching- learning process. They have to be accordance with the environment of the learners. Only right type if materials will able to modify the behavior of the learner suitably making him a fit person for the society.

TEACHING-LEARNING STRATEGIES

A strategy plays an important role in the hands of a teacher in every teaching-learning situation. • Overhead projector also works as a great classroom management strategy to the teachers.

 DEVELOPMENT OF AUDIO -VISUAL AIDS

Audio-visual aids have always played an important role in the teaching-learning process.

Overhead projector slides/transparencies are displayed on the overhead projector (OHP) - a very useful tool found in most lecture and seminar rooms. The OHP projects and enlarges your slides onto a screen or wall without requiring the lights to be dimmed.

HELPS IN OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS

Educational Technology helps in locating the problems in the different areas or education. It also helps in remedying the draw-backs. Evaluation of teaching-learning process is also made better because through feedback, things are improved thoroughly and there is better control over the process of education.

The overhead projector is a great teaching tool as well as a powerful technique for maintaining order in your classroom.

 IDENTIFICATION OF NEED OF THE COMMUNITY Education Technology identifies the need of the community. It helps in providing equal education opportunities to backward people, disadvantaged students and deprived sections of the society.