I can actually remember when we didn’t have computers in school. Laptops did not exist and our classroom was filled with notes, papers, and pens; it’s probably why I still rely on my notes so much. But, that didn’t mean that technology wasn’t used in the classroom. I can remember when teachers used movies in classrooms to educate. What is technology? Even words educational technology have many different meanings.

When I looked into the words “educational technology”,  I found that there are many different definitions of the word. The definition that I found most compelling was educational technology as “a complex integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and organization, for analyzing problems, and devising, implementing, evaluating and managing solutions to those problems” (“Educational technology,” EduTech Wiki). Whatever definition is used; the concept of using technology in education is not a new one.

It seems the literature begins to collect information on the subject around the 1970’s. Although, the literature only puts the words educational technology together at that time period. Fast forward twenty years and most of the literature talks about computers in a classroom; the terms we have all come and known to love. Taking technology in the classroom for educational purposes seems to really take off when computers and the internet became affordable to households; somewhere in the 90’s. When HTML applications were introduced it became even easier to use these tools for good. However, the literature rarely talks about the introduction of technology in the classroom as being successful. If taught productively and with the appropriate learning styles in mind; I feel it can be successful. As far as I am concerned, history is history. It is extremely important to know information from previous individuals who have come before you. It’s more important to learn from the mistakes of the past which is why learning is so important. Theorists can theorize all they want. Actions speak louder than words; there are so many things we do not know and until we put them into practice we cannot suggest whether they have been successful or not.

 

References

“Educational technology,” EduTech Wiki, Retrieved 2018, September 07, from http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Educational_technology.