What Is Tech Education? Categories, Facilitation, and Approach Explained

Educational technology is a complicated time to explain because it can mean several different things. It can involve a wide range of things like learning management systems, digital tools and media, ICT information and communication technology, or even tech infrastructure in schools.

For simplicity, education technology is the study of the practice of edifying learning and advancing performance by building, utilizing, and catering to appropriate technology-based processes. A great way to categorize tech education learning experiences is by identifying expertise.

The learning theory behind the whole experience. Learning theories are ideas that attempt to describe how humans learn. You can divide these Ed-tech learning new experiences through three broad learning theories. These include:

• Behaviorism;
• Cognitivism;
• Constructivism.

Each of these theories provides different perspectives on teaching and learning. Looking at how tech enhances learning, through the lenses of these theories, let’s go ahead and discuss what each of these theories is all about. We shall also review the perspectives of these theories regarding education technology.

Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a theory of learning that is based on the idea that all behaviors are a wire through conditioning. Now, within this theory, there is something called operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is when behavior is learned through a stimulus that leads to response and then the stimulus that follows that response.

BF Skinner, a behaviorist, implemented the Operant conditioning into academic learning which is now called programmed instruction. This type of instruction involves the use of a mechanical device — a teaching machine that provides stimuli to students and additional  reinforcers based on their responses.

Behaviors and based tech are very popular in Ed-tech because . it helps students increase their performance on tests. For example, ups and other online platforms Bricktown learning into smaller sections each section requiring students to respond to stimuli and then getting immediate feedback.

Cognitivism

Cognitivism is a learning theory that focuses on how information is perceived, organized, secured, and retrieved by the mind. Cognitivism, just like the computer, focuses more on the mental processes. In education, cognitivism focuses on how information is presented on how things are organized in sequence so that it’s easier to understand and remember.

First, catching students’ attention, then helping them to make sense of the information that was given, and then start to build the mental maps. However, we recognize there’s some degree of difficulties in digesting information. Hence, methods such as paper help — online services that help students in areas where their understanding may fail, could be encouraged.

In educational technology, this could involve the presentation of information through visual learning, auditory learning, and digital multimedia.

Visual learning is learning through visuals that follow perception principles to help students better understand important information. Auditory learning is where students learn based on hearing, and digital multimedia is digital content that uses multiple media to pass information.

Constructivism

Constructivism is the most difficult theory to define because of the diverse meanings to eat. But the commonality between these different views is that that is the belief that knowledge is constructed by learners as they attempt to make sense of their experiences.

Within these constructivism based learning experiences, the prescriptive principles that they follow. According to Prof. Marcy Driscoll of Florida State University of Education, do you normative principles do the following:

• Integrate learning into complex, realistic, and relevant spaces;
• Create possibilities for social negotiations as a crucial part of learning;
• Cushion multiple views and the use of simple models of presentation;
• Promote ownership in learning;
• Breed self-awareness during the learning process.

From the three theories, we can see that educational technology can look very different depending on the method behind it. At the same time, call applications of Ed-tech should facilitate learning in one shape or form.

Facilitation

In 2016, ISTE, a non-profit body committed to empowering learners in the world, introduced new tech standards for students. These standards identified what students would be able to do with technology. For example, students use various technologies to identify and solve problems by designing creative solutions.

The new tech standards focus on facilitating transformative learning ― a roadmap to transformative learning that emphasizes on empowering student voice and student agency. These standards give students a unique role in education, as well.

Approach

So how do the ISTE learning standards Feet into learning experiences? There are two ways. The first one is through the empowered learner. Students use the SeeSaw app to set and achieve learning goals. The second one is knowledge constructor. Students also demonstrate their learning through the construction of their festival float. They additionally use online resources to research and curate crucial information to answer the project's questions.

In summary, without tech education, learning would be a task. The improvements we have right now are shreds of evidence of brighter and bigger things to come.