Aplicaciones de la INFORMÁTICA Educativa a la

Enseñanza del Inglés

Buroni, Andrea

Coronel, Angel Javier

Definition • Educational

technology (also called learning technology) is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.

•Educational technology defined as an array of tools.

A short history

Educational technology in a way could be traced back to the emergence of very early tools, e.g., paintings on cave walls. But usually its history is made to start with educational film (1900's) or Sidney Pressey's mechanical teaching machines in the 1920‘s.

Theories and practices Three main theoretical schools or philosophical

frameworks have been present in the educational technology literature. These are:

Behaviorism,

Cognitivism

Constructivism.

Each of these schools of thought are still present in today's literature but have evolved as the Psychology literature has evolved.

The schools in depth

BEHAVIOURISM COGNITIVISM CONSTRUCTIVISM

Developed in the early 20th century.

Some exponents: Ivan Pavlov, Edward Thorndike, B.F. Skinner and many others.

Many psychologists used these theories to describe and experiment with human learning but it has lost favor with many

educators.

Developed in the 1960s and 1970s.

It has changed how educators view learning.

Computer Science and Information Technology have had a major influence on Cognitive Science theory.

Some important concepts: • working memory • long term memory

Another major influence on the field of Cognitive Science is Noam Chomsky.

Developed in the early 20th century.

Some exponents: Jean Piaget, Vygotsky, Jerome Bruner and many others.

Primary tenet: learners construct their own meaning from new information, as they interact with reality or others with different perspectives.

The 1950's led to two major still popular designs.

Skinners work led to "programmed instruction" focusing on:

Bloom endorsed instructional techniques

the formulation of behavioural objectives, breaking instructional content into small units and rewarding correct responses early and often.

that varied both instruction and time according to learner requirements. Models based on these designs were usually referred to as computer-based training" (CBT), Computer-aided instruction or computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the 1970's through the 1990's.

• Preferred technologies were micro-worlds (computer environments where learners could explore and build), simulations (computer environments where the learner can play with parameters of dynamic systems) and hypertext.

The 1980's and 1990's produced a variety of schools that can be put under the umbrella of the label Computer-based learning (CBL).

The next century has arrived

The 2000's emergence of multiple mobile and ubiquitous technologies gave a new impulse to situated learning theories favoring learning-in-context scenarios.

Some literature uses the concept of integrated learning to describe blended learning scenarios that integrate both school and authentic (e.g., workplace) settings.

Technology in the classroom There are many kinds of computer and non-computer

technologies currently in use in traditional classrooms. Among these are:

• Computer in the classroom• Class website • Class blogs and wikis • Wireless classroom microphones• Mobile devices • SmartBoards• Online media

Sources

• http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Educational_technology#A_short_history

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_technology• These web-pages were last visited on August 25th,

2010.• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Constructivism_(learning_theory) • This page was last visited on August 30th, 2010.