Roles and-functions-of-educational-technology-in-21 st

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATIONAL

TECHNOLOGY IN 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION ♦ The term “21st century” has become the central part of

educational thinking and planning for the future. Creating a 21st century education system is about making sure that all students are prepared to succeed in a competitive world.

♦ Globalization has opened up the world and allowed people to connect new and exciting ways. And as always, at its core, the role of education is to prepare students to become active, successful and contributing members of society.

The following that can be considered when deciding how education will look in our schools and

classrooms:

• Instruction should be student-centered Instead of passively receiving information, the students would

gather information on their own, under the guidance of their teacher.

• Education should be collaborative Collaboration should also be dynamic. Students should learn how to recognize the different strengths and talents each person can bring to a project, and change roles depending on those attributes.

• Learning should have context The teacher can make a point of helping students to understand how the skills they are building can be applied in their lives.

The Role of Technology in 21st Century Learning:

• Technology allows for 24/7 access to information

• Constant social interaction, and

• Easily created and shared digital content

Technology as a fundamental building block into education in three broad areas:

• Use technology comprehensively to develop proficiency in 21st century skills

• Use technology comprehensively to support innovative teaching and learning

• Use technology comprehensively to create robust education support system

Important functions of Educational Technology:

♦ Improvement of Teaching Educational 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, it helps in improving the quality of education.

♦ Analysis of the Teaching-Learning Process Educational technology aims at analyzing the process of teaching-learning thoroughly. It tries to find out the different variables of teaching. Over all, it tries to establish better relationship between teaching and learning.

♦ Improvement of Learning Educational Technology analyses the process of learning and

the related theories. It facilitates more and more learning in less time. It takes the help of various empirically established generalizations from psychology, sociology, physical sciences, engineering.

♦ Enhancing Goals of Education The objectives of education are being reviewed and revised

with the passage of time. Educational Technology helps in finding out the right objectives. Everything in this universe is undergoing tremendous changes and with a very fast speed.

♦ Training to Teachers The changed type of environment with new curriculum and

new materials is to be handled by teachers. Right type of training to the teachers is the need of the hour. Educational Technology can render its valuable help in the training to teachers also.

♦ Development Curriculum Keeping in view the objectives of education, which have been

finalized by education technology thereafter, comes the question of developing right type of curriculum. Only a suitable type of curriculum will help in the 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 in accordance with the environment of the learners. In this age of science and technology, the materials of teaching cannot be unscientific.

♦ Teaching-Learning Strategies A strategy plays an important role in the hands of a teacher in

every teaching-learning situation. The strategy has to be right one, which should be according to the materials and is able to bring about effective teaching learning. The different strategies are being evolved by educational technology. The knowledge of those strategies is a must for every teacher.

♦ Development of Audio-Visual Aids Audio-Visual aids have always played an important role in the

teaching-learning process. They need be used according to the times. The software aids, the hardware aids, the computer and other such appliances, equipment, etc. have “to be used in the present type of teaching-learning environment.

♦ Help in Overall Improvement Educational Technology helps in locating the problems in the

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

♦ Identification of Needs of the Community Educational Technology identifies the needs of the

community,. It helps in providing equal education opportunities to backward people, disadvantaged students and deprived sections of the society. Educational Technology aims at identifying the needs of the community from time to time. Then it tries to improve the community in every possible way.