Friday, September 4, 2009

Identify & Get Informed

Educational technology, the incorporation of information technology into the learning experience, is a term that continues to evolve alongside technological advancements in the field.

The issue of educational technology has played a major part in improving the learning outcomes of individuals by personalizing the learning experience. The immediate responsiveness of computer based programs, and the self-paced private learning environment that educational technology warrants seeks to promote higher levels of motivation among students worldwide. It has also provided greater access to education such as in the case of increased accommodation for students with severe physical disabilities and for students living in remote locations.

E-learning refers to the specific kind of learning experienced within the domain of educational technology, which can be used in or out of the classroom. Distance learning, computer-based training, and social networking tools are just a few examples of e-learning. Tools like TIGed (http://www.tigweb.org/tiged) combine engaging social networking technologies with citizenship and global education. Implementing such tools in the classroom addresses the pressing need for today’s youth to be more aware of their global environment.

The debate over which tool best serves the needs of the learners is ongoing and subject to geographic context. For instance, in developing countries, mobile phones out number computers because of their low costs and operating needs, thus, raising the question of whether mobiles could serve as a better learning tool with more educational benefits than computers in the developing countries.

source: issues.tigweb.org

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