ROLES AND FUNCTIONS of EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

The term “21st century” has become the central part of educational thinking and planning for the future. Administrators and teachers are actively searching for ways to prepare students for the future, and the educational system has been evolving faster than ever before. Creating a 21st century education system is about making sure that all students are prepared to succeed in a competitive world. A world with plenty of opportunities for highly skilled individuals and limited options for everyone else. It's about maximizing the impact of technology to develop proficiency in 21st century skills, support innovative teaching and learning, and create robust education support systems. In order to prepare students to play thier role in the 21st century society we are a part of, the following can be considered when deciding how education will look in our schools and classrooms.

1. Instruction should be student-centered

The days of lecturing teachers has passed - though not entirely. While student-centered learning is strongly encouraged in the 21st century, this does not mean that the teacher can never give a lecture again.

2. Education should be collaborative.

Students must learn how to collaborative

with others. Society today has people

collaborating across the globe.

3. Learning should have context

Student-centered does not mean that the teacher gives up all control of the classroom. The teacher can make a point of helping students to understand how the skills they are building can be applied to their lives.

The role of technology in 21st Century Learning

1. Technology allows for 24/7 access to information2. Constant social interaction, and3. Easily created and shared digital content.

In setting, educators can leverage technology to create an engaging and personalized environment to meet the emerging educational need of our current generation. No longer does learning have to be one-size-fits-all or confined to the classroom. As our digital capacity expands and our training in technology use grows, teachers will begin to utilize technology to better meet the needs and interests of students though technology application and instruction.

There is a call for action to integrate technology as a fundamental building block into education in three broad areas:

1. Use technology comprehensively to develop proficiency in 21st century skills.

2. Use technology comprehensively to support innovative teaching and learning.

3. Use technology comprehensively to create robust education support systems.

IMPORTANT FUNTIONS OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

1. Improvement of Teaching2. Analysis of the Teaching-Learning Process3. Improvement of Learning4. ENhancing Goals of Education5. Training to Teachers6. Development of Curriculum7. Development of Teaching-Learning Materials8. Teaching-Learning StrategieS9. Development of Audio-Visual Aids10. Help in Overall Improvement11. Identification of Needs of the Community