Introduction
The
challenges of the modern world emerging from a global approach of scientific
knowledge, democratic ideas and demands on personality require that teaching
methodology should undergo revolutionary changes to meet the new aspirations
and needs of the society. The quote by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru fits well here
when he says “Man today, as never before in human history, has to live with
change as a permanent partner in his activities”.
Difference
between Educational technology and Teaching Technology
Educational
technology stands for the application of the principles and techniques of
science and technology as well as psychology in the activities of teaching and
learning. It is a broad concept. Educational technology cannot be limited to
teaching process or teaching alone.
Teaching
technology is a specialized branch of educational technology that is meant for
teachers and the teaching process. Teaching technology focuses on systematizing
the process of teaching and provides necessary theory and practice for the
teacher to bring improvement in the task of teaching.
Forms
of Educational technology
Educational
technology is capable of providing necessary ways and means for improving the
processes and products of teaching learning related to both formal and informal
education. There are four forms of educational technology namely
1. Teaching
Technology
2. Instructional
Technology
3. Behavioural
Technology
4. Instructional
Design Technology
Teaching
Technology
It
is concerned with the task of systematization of the process of teaching. It is
the application of philosophical, sociological and scientific knowledge to
teaching for achieving some specific learning objectives. Thus, the knowledge
and practice which help in realizing the goal is the content matter of teaching
technology.
A
teacher has to play the role of a technician by learning the art and science of
teaching. Here teaching is regarded as a technology that a teacher should try
to know and practice well if one wish to be successful in one’s teaching job.
The essence of the application of technology lies in getting more and better
output with the least input in terms of time and labour.
A
teacher must be well equipped with the technological skills if one is in
position to make use of technology in teaching. Besides, one must have a good
knowledge of the subject matter.
These
technological skills are 1. Communication skill 2. Skill of interaction with
his students
3.
Skill of making students to learn and think independently and 4. Skill of
evaluating and reinforcing pupil’s behaviour.
Fundamental
principles and characteristics of teaching technology
According
to E. G. Veydanayagam(1988)
1. Teaching
is a scientific process and its major components are content, communication and
feedback.
2. There
is a close relationship between teaching and learning.
3. It
is possible to modify, improve and develop the teaching learning activities.
4. Teaching
skills can be developed and strengthened by means of feedback devices with or
without sophisticated techniques.
5. Use
of achievement motivation technique enhances the output of the teacher and the
learner.
Contents
of teaching technology
Davies
(1971) in his book ‘Management of learning’ presents fours steps as contents of
teaching technology. They are
1.
Planning
of teaching
The
planning of teaching enables teacher to plan the details of his teaching for
which, formulating teaching learning objectives is very important. It is
followed by the implementation of the objectives by taking care of the entry
behaviour of the learners, choosing an appropriate learning experience as well
as proper teaching methods, strategies and aid materials and finally creating a
conductive and helpful environment for proper teaching learning.
2.
Organization
of teaching
The
teaching technology supplies the necessary knowledge and skills to the concerned
teacher for arranging relating and organizing all the
available teaching learning resources, men
and material for the proper realization of the set teaching learning
objectives in the most effective, efficient
and economic way possible.
3.
Leading
of teaching
Here it is to provide necessary
knowledge and skills for a teacher to motivate, encourage, guide and thus lead
students on the path of learning for the realization and the set teaching
learning process.
4.
Controlling
of teaching
The
contents of teaching technology help a teacher to acquire necessary knowledge
skills for the proper measurement and assessment of the teaching learning
outcomes, that is, the output of his teaching in view of the set teaching
learning objectives.
It is therefore necessary for all people
engaged in education, for the best use of the resources, to understand
adequately the dynamics and mechanism of educational technology and to provide
best education to students.
Teaching at different levels
Teaching
makes conditions for learning some content that can be taught at different
levels. The teacher needs to present a topic at three levels.
1. Memory
Level
2. Understanding
Level
3. Reflective
level
1. Memory Level
It is the lowest level
of teaching and the emphasis is on memorization of factual information. It is
still the common practice in the present system of education. Teacher is active while students are passive.
However, teaching at understanding and reflective level can be successful when
teaching at memory level occurs.
2. Understanding level
Memory is a
pre-requisite for understanding level of teaching. Here the teacher develops
competency among students to recognize, explain and use principles. The
emphasis is on discrimination between elements, to find out commonalities as
well as relationship between the elements to form a rule or principle. It
develops the intellectual behaviour. Both student and teacher participate in
teaching-learning process. Teaching at reflective level can be successful when
teaching at memory and understanding level becomes successful.
3.
Reflective
Level
It
is the highest level of teaching, for which memory and understanding are a
pre-requisite. The students are engaged in imaginative and critical thinking to
solve the problem. They solve problem by formulating hypothesis and testing
them. It develops ability to overcome hurdles, barriers and obstacles. Problem
is solved through reasoning, critical and creative thinking. An ability to
think critically must be the essential outcome of effective learning. Norris
and Ennis have identified four elements of critical thinking.
1. Reasonable
thinking that is, based on sound evidence.
2. Reflective
thinking that examines the worth of one’s own and other’s thoughts.
3. Focused
thinking that is purposeful and deliberate.
4. Thinking
that leads to decision or judgement.
The
drawback in this level is the rigid time-table, rigid structure of content,
traditional evaluation system that mainly tests memory, lack of freedom in
thinking of both teacher and students.
The challenges
1. The
National council for Teacher Education’s (NCTE) recommendation is for recasting
the programmes of teacher education with emphasis on rural reconstruction and
reliance on science and technology to meet the aspirations and responsibilities
of emerging Indian society. The question is excellence in relevance and not
relevance or excellence. The emphasis should be on giving training in skills to
teachers.
2. Teacher’s
role is a pivotal one in any educational system and thus a proper and adequate
training is vital in order to achieve the objectives of educational system.
These objectives must be based on the aspirations and needs of the society at
large.
3. In
order to make the best use of the resources, people engaged in education must
understand adequately the dynamics and mechanism of educational technology.
This will enable the teachers to provide best education to their students.
4. It
includes the mechanism of instructional process in the classroom situations,
levels of teaching, principal operations and establishing relations between
learning theories and teaching operations.
5. Teachers
must be trained to use information technologies effectively in the class room
situation so as to prepare the children to meet the challenges of the emerging
world of information technology.
6. The
proper teaching necessarily implies that the teacher must respond to the needs
of individual keeping in mind their individual differences as well as the
community.
7. The
teacher is expected to ensure all round development of the child, to promote
certain skills like problem-solving skills, process skills, social skills and
creative skills among the students.
8. It
is the duty and responsibility of the teacher to bring the slow learners on par
with average students.
9. One
must be skilled in the used and choice of a variety of teaching methods.
10. The
individual teacher must be given professional autonomy to determine programmes,
teaching methods in order to achieve educational objectives.
11. Regular
in-service training is a must in order to incorporate new development in
teaching.
Benefits
of Educational Technology
The U.S Commission on
Insturucation Technology (1970) has listed the following important benefits of
educational technology
1. Technology
can make education more productive.
2. Technology
can make education more individual.
3. Technology
can give instruction a more scientific base.
4. Technology
can make instruction more powerful.
5. Technology
can make access to education more immediate.
6. Technology
can make access to education more equal.
References
1.
Technology of teaching, R. A. Sharma.
2.
Essentials of educational technology, Aggarwal
J.
3. Education
in information age, S. Venkataiah.
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