Blog 4

What is the difference between technology in education and educational technology?

Technology in Education

Educational Technology

*When teachers use tools to supplement what they are already teaching. *Leans more toward standardization in that the teacher tells the students which program to use and how to use it. The teacher sets up specific parameters and only allows the students to work within those parameters. For example, the teacher may want to supplement a lesson with a math game that is found on the internet. Rather than letting a student that understands the concept continue on and learn something new, that student must continue to practice what they are already proficient at, because that is what the rest of the class is doing. *According to Disrupting Class technology in education is basically what teachers have been doing ever since the big push to put computers in schools. *Teacher-centered. For example, when a teacher creates a podcast to review the lecture for the day.

*When technology replaces what the teacher was teaching. *Leans more toward modularity. For example, rather than the teacher focusing on teaching a lesson in one particular way, the students could be using educational technology which could teach in several different formats that could fit the child’s needs. It has a better capability of slowing down or speeding up the lessons according to the child’s readiness. *The author of Disrupting Class argues that one of the best forms of educational technology would be online learning. This is essentially going to school online. *Student-centered. For example, when a student creates a podcast based on an article they wrote.

What is TPACK and how does it help us better understand the role and impact of technology?

TPACK is when pedagogy, content, and technology come together. I'm totally stealing a page out of Michelle's book and using an image that I found online because I feel that it explains TPACK perfectly for me. :)

Pedagogy, content, and technology are all essential elements for TPACK. To me having TPACK is what educational technology is. On the other hand, technology in education is when pedagogy or content are missing. The teacher is trying to incorporate technology into his/her curriculum, but they are skipping key ingredients.

I really liked the Venn Diagram that we created in class that listed several tools that we use with pedagogy, content, and technology. When it came to actually bringing all of these elements together the tools were very student-centered, such as blogging, webquests, podcasting, flipped classroom, etc.