Everything You Need to Know About Educational Technology

Summary

In this video, David Lee explores educational technology (EdTech), defining it as the ethical practice of facilitating learning and performance improvement through technology. He categorizes EdTech experiences through behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism learning theories. Lee emphasizes the importance of transformative learning, referencing the ISTE standards for students, which advocate for student agency and voice. He concludes by highlighting project-based learning as an effective teaching approach that integrates technology across all learning theories, fostering a cohesive and meaningful educational experience.

Takeaways

• 📚 Educational technology (EdTech) encompasses a wide range of tools and processes, including learning management systems, digital tools, ICT, and tech infrastructure in schools.
• 🔍 EdTech is defined as the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance through the creation, use, and management of appropriate technological resources.
• 🎓 EdTech experiences can be categorized based on learning theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism, each providing a different perspective on teaching and learning.
• 🤖 Behaviorism in EdTech often involves the use of apps and online platforms that provide stimuli and immediate feedback, like Khan Academy, to help students practice and improve at their own pace.
• 🧠 Cognitivism focuses on mental processes and how information is received, organized, stored, and retrieved, with EdTech supporting visual, auditory, and multimedia learning.
• 🏗️ Constructivism in EdTech is about learners constructing knowledge from their experiences, with principles such as embedded learning, social negotiation, and self-awareness of knowledge construction.
• 🌟 The ISTE standards for students emphasize transformative learning, empowering students to take a more self-directed role in their education with the support of technology.
• 📈 Project-based learning (PBL) is highlighted as an effective teaching approach that integrates technology across all learning theories and develops skills outlined in the ISTE standards.
• 🔑 The seven essential elements of PBL include a challenging problem, sustained inquiry, authenticity, student voice and choice, reflection, critique and revision, and a public showcase.
• 🛠️ EdTech tools can be used to facilitate various aspects of a PBL project, such as collaboration, documentation, reflection, problem-solving, and presentation of information.
• 🌐 The integration of EdTech should support transformative learning experiences that align with the ISTE standards, promoting student agency, voice, and the ethical use of technology.

Q & A

What is the definition of educational technology (EdTech) according to the video?

Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.

How does the video categorize different types of EdTech experiences?

The video categorizes EdTech experiences through three broad learning theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism, each providing different perspectives on teaching and learning.

What is behaviorism and how is it applied in EdTech?

Behaviorism is a learning theory based on the idea that behaviors are acquired through conditioning, particularly operant conditioning. In EdTech, it is applied through apps and platforms that break down learning into smaller sections, providing stimuli and immediate feedback to students, like Khan Academy.

Can you explain cognitivism and its focus in educational technology?

Cognitivism focuses on how information is received, organized, stored, and retrieved by the mind. In EdTech, it involves the presentation of information through visual learning, auditory learning, and digital multimedia to help students better understand and remember information.

What are the prescriptive principles of constructivism-based learning experiences according to Marcy Driscoll?

The principles include embedded learning in realistic environments, social negotiation, support for multiple perspectives, use of multiple modes of representation, encouragement of ownership in learning, and nurturing self-awareness of the knowledge construction process.

What are the ISTE standards and how do they relate to transformative learning?

The ISTE standards are tech standards introduced by the International Society for Technology in Education to identify what students will be able to do with technology. They focus on transformative learning by emphasizing empowering student voice and agency, giving students a more self-directed role in learning, and viewing teachers as facilitators.

How does project-based learning (PBL) complement effective technology integration according to the video?

PBL provides a cohesive learning experience where students can use technology through the lens of all three learning theories and develop skills involved in the new ISTE standards. It involves real-world and personally meaningful projects that engage students in active learning.

What are the seven essential elements of PBL as mentioned in the video?

The seven essential elements of PBL are a challenging problem or question, sustained inquiry, authenticity, student voice and choice, reflection, critique and revision, and public showcase.

Can you provide an example of how EdTech is used in a PBL project from the video?

In the example, fourth graders design a mechanical float for a festival. They use digital tools like G Suite for collaboration, digital learning journals like Seesaw for documentation and reflection, microcontrollers for hands-on learning, and digital game-based learning tools for drill and practice.

How do the ISTE standards fit into the PBL example provided in the video?

The ISTE standards fit into the PBL example as students use technology to set and achieve learning goals, construct knowledge, solve problems, communicate creatively, and collaborate globally. They also demonstrate algorithmic thinking and use online resources for research and curation.

What does the video suggest as one of the best teaching approaches to complement effective and meaningful integration of technology?

The video suggests project-based learning as one of the best teaching approaches to complement effective and meaningful integration of technology, as it aligns with the ISTE standards and provides a comprehensive learning experience.