Reflective Blog #2 - Week 2



“Educational technology is a teaching model with the capacity to facilitate learning by integrating varying forms of technological medium into a student-centered educational environment, which empowers the learner to become creators of knowledge through the application, collaboration, global connections, reflection, and demonstration of skills acquired with the learning community.”

I find it difficult to cultivate a one-sentence definition of educational technology. The vastness of its uses, constant evolution, and contributions cannot be summed up in one sentence. My digital concept map could grow exponentially and still not encompass all the descriptors and uses of educational technology, however it is a minor attempt to describe its impact. From the digital native to the digital immigrants, today's learners still need to be active participants in their education. All students interested in learning want to be engaged. The skilled educator is able to create an environment which allows all students the opportunity to learn new skills, develop new concepts, share and collaborate with peers, and the world through the use of technology. The creation of my digital concept map was an opportunity for me to connect to new tools and develop a new skill. I loved this project and tried out each of the links and a couple of other ones located on http://worditout.com or http://www.wordsift.com .  I am not considered a digital native by definition, but I do like being engaged and given the opportunity to learn.

Educational technology is evolving at a rapid pace and the educator has many more tools available to make learning exciting and useful for the learner. The use of Podcasts, cellphones, blogs, iPods, Wordle, or other technology is another opportunity to diversify the learning environment to meet the learning styles of learners, whether they are digital natives or digital immigrants like myself. Educators of today can incorporate the more traditional teaching methods of lecture or individual writing assignments with the unlimited uses of technology if they are willing to develop their own skills. It takes skill to incorporate technology into a meaningful learning experience. When critiquing my journal article for this week which studied the use of laptops and its effect on flexibility and effectiveness, the researchers noted just supplying the technology did not necessarily translate into effective studying and learning. It once again emphasized the importance of combining technology with an effective curriculum.

Educational technology affords the institution, its faculty, staff, and students with the opportunity to connect and learn from people around the world.  The videos from the course blog shows that most institutions have not scratched the surface when it comes to incorporating effective and meaningful educational technology. Institutions must evaluate how it will incorporate more effective, affordable training and usage of technology,  in order to attract and retain students.