Theoretical Foundations

1. Theoretical Foundations Teaching and Learning with Technology Chapter 1 Allyn and Bacon 2002

2. What is Educational Technology? • Educational technology is any technology used by educators in support of the teaching and learning process • Educators study educational technology in order to have a sound foundation in the technologies needed to teach • NETS-T standards articulate what teachers and students should know about technology Allyn and Bacon 2002

3. Educational Technology & Instruction • Educational technologies are the tools teachers use to create an effective instructional event • An instructional event includes all activities that promote the transfer of knowledge and/or skills in the learning environment • The learning environment includes the physical and non-physical aspects of the area in which the instructional event takes place Allyn and Bacon 2002

4. About Learning • A variety of theories explain how people learn • Each theory offers a different perspective on learning • Some theories may be contradictory • Each teacher must personally decide which theory he or she agrees with Allyn and Bacon 2002

5. Learning Theories Learning as Communication • Knowledge is transferred by sending a message from sender to receiver • Receiver then returns feedback to sender • Sender receives feedback • All messages are impacted by variables that may alter the pure meaning of the intended message Allyn and Bacon 2002

6. Learning Theories Allyn and Bacon 2002

7. Learning Theories Environmental Factors • Any factor in the environment that may cause a learner to lose focus • Environmental conditions can block communications • Lighting, movement, temperature may all interfere with communications Allyn and Bacon 2002

8. Learning Theories Psychological Factors • Unique individual differences that define and impact reception of communicated information • Emotional state may interfere with message reception • Learning styles (preferred sensory gateways) may interfere with transmission Allyn and Bacon 2002

9. Learning Theories Personal Filters • Individual’s values, heritage, and belief system that may alter intended messages • May include attitudes, cultural differences, and opinions • Filters are present in both sender and receiver Allyn and Bacon 2002

10. Learning Theories Behaviorists • All behavior is a response to external stimuli • Students learn (acquire behaviors, skills and knowledge) in response to rewards and punishments • Learning is a passive response to the environment Allyn and Bacon 2002

11. Learning Theories Cognitivists • Focus is on learning as a mental operation • Information enters through senses, is mentally manipulated, stored and used • Learning is explained in terms of how one thinks • Believe learning is more complex than simple behavioristic responses Allyn and Bacon 2002

12. Learning Theory Constructivists • Knowledge is constructed as a result of the learning process and is unique to the person who constructs it • Learning happens when knowledge is assimilated or accommodated (Piaget) • Knowledge may be constructed best in a social context Allyn and Bacon 2002

13. The Learner Cognitive Styles • The manner in which one thinks and interprets the environment • Myers-Briggs helps to determine cognitive preferences • Understanding cognitive styles helps teachers create a supportive instructional environment Allyn and Bacon 2002

14. The Learner Learning Styles • Conditions under which one learns best • Relates to individual sensory dominance • Auditory learners learn best by listening • Visual learners learn best by seeing • Kinesthetic/Tactile learners learn best by doing and touching Allyn and Bacon 2002

15. The Learner Intelligence • Inherent capabilities to learn and understand • Standford-Binet IQ tests emphasize verbal and mathematical abilities • Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory suggests everyone has some degree of each of nine types of intelligence Allyn and Bacon 2002

16. Multiple Intelligences Verbal-Linguistic Mathematical-Logical Musical Visual-Spatial Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Naturalistic Existential The Learner Allyn and Bacon 2002

17. Teaching and Learning • Teaching is a systematic planned sequence of events • Teaching is a process that communication of ideas and skills • Teaching takes into account individual and environmental factors related to the learner • Skilled teachers are aware of learning theories and learner characteristics that impact the process Allyn and Bacon 2002

18. Teaching and Learning • Technology is a component of the teaching and learning process • Educational technology includes any resource used to facilitate teaching and learning • This view of technology has been an evolution consistent with the evolution of learning theories Allyn and Bacon 2002

19. Educational Technology An Historical Overview • The audio-visual movement began in the early 1900s with the advent of movies • Slides, radio, sound recordings were added in the 1920s-1930s to support the wars • Television drove audio-visuals in the 1950s Allyn and Bacon 2002

20. Educational Technology An Historical Overview • In the 1960s A-V was expanded to a broader systems view • By the 1970s educational technology was redefined to include all types of learning resources and systems • With the advent of the computer in the 1980s, educational technology entered the Digital Age Allyn and Bacon 2002

21. Educational Technology Today • The systems view of educational technology embraces all media and systems that support the teaching and learning process • Each teacher must decide how to best utilize technology in support of his or her students Allyn and Bacon 2002