Education Technology – What It Is

Educational technology is a field that includes all kinds of software, hardware and other technologies that support learning in schools. Sometimes called EdTech, it’s used by students and teachers across all grade levels.

Education Technology: What It Is

The term “education technology” is a broader concept than just technology in the classroom. It encompasses a wide range of tools and software designed to help educators deliver instruction more effectively, improve student learning outcomes and boost teacher productivity.

It includes a variety of digital tools that can be purchased or downloaded for free, including online quiz makers, virtual reality (VR) platforms and classroom management systems. It also includes tools like SMART boards, which are interactive whiteboards for teachers and students to write on and draw on.

Educators can create digital repositories of the teaching materials they use and make them accessible to students and caregivers on their own time. This saves them the work of weeding through piles of paper resources, and it ensures that they’re always up to date on what they need to teach.

They can track student performance and attendance, send automatic notifications when a student is behind, and even have access to real-time signals on how well they’re doing as they progress through a course. This can be helpful to teachers who need to monitor their students’ performance in order to keep them on track.

Some teachers use a program called Top Hat, which allows them to give their students a more personalized reading experience through dynamic courseware that provides them with real-time feedback on whether they’re understanding the material. It also gives them the flexibility to schedule lectures, quizzes and discussions in ways that fit their schedules.

It also enables them to offer students a more equitable learning experience by offering different ways for students to demonstrate their knowledge. For example, they can show their responses to quiz questions, participate in discussions or submit work on a project.

Several universities and colleges offer degrees and specializations in educational technology. They prepare graduates to become media specialists, course designers and faculty development professionals who integrate technology into their teaching practices.

These professionals may work in classrooms, libraries and public or private schools as well as business training centers, corporate learning departments and educational consulting firms. They can also work in government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

The field of educational technology is one that involves a blend of principles and theories of brain function and learning as well as principles of teaching and education. It can also include the principles of computer science, information technology and data analysis.

It can be used to develop curriculums, modify existing courses, create programs for adult learners and conduct research. It can also be used in industry as a way to train employees in new technology or to implement changes in the workplace.

A degree in educational technology helps you understand the theories and principles of learning and teaching, which is a valuable asset for any career. Those who enter this area as instructors, researchers or those who work with adults benefit from the insights they have about the learning process, because they can customize and strengthen their curriculums, create programs for work or improve their students’ performance.