1. Introduction to educational
technology
Mart Laanpere, head of the Centre for Educational Technology, Tallinn University
2. Prologue
Conference joke: Rip van Winkle would survive as a teacher
Technological innovations in education as “silver bullets”:
radio, transparencies, VHS, PowerPoint slides, Moodle, ...
Advertaisement of IWB SmartBoard: the technology that does
not require changing your teaching style
Laptop schools experiment in Estonia 2009/2010
Steve Jobs & Bill Gates: educational system has not been
influenced by technological innovation
Educational technology: merely technological devices?
4. Educational technology: definitions
In European contintental languages, the term ‘didactics’ is used
for “art and science of teaching”
“Technology in education” vs “technology of education”
Technology: the systematic application of scientific knowledge
to practical tasks
Variety of definitions: EduTechWiki
AECT definition by M.Molenda: the study and ethical practice of
facilitating learning and improving performance by
creating, using, and managing appropriate technological
processes and resources.
5. Change in learning environment
Learning environment: range of contexts, components and
activities in which learning occurs. Four dimensions: physical,
relationships, structures and expectations, language and
communication
Taken for granted, that’s why reform pedagogies usually start
from breaking down the traditional LE (Pestalozzi, Montessori,
Steiner, open classroom…)
Historical learning environments: Socrates and peripathetikos,
apprenticeship, Rousseau Emile, early village schools
The first virtual learning environments: 3D copy of classroom
6. Virtual learning environments
Dimension 1.generation 2.generation 3.generation
Software Educational software Course management Digital Learning
architecture systems Ecosystems
Pedagogical Bihaviorism Cognitivism Knowledge building,
foundation connectivism
Content Integrated with code Learning Objects, Mash-up, remixed,
management content packages user-generated
Dominant E-textbook, drill & Sharing LO’s, forum Reflections, collab.
affordances practice, tests discussions, quiz production, design
Access Computer lab in Home computer Everywhere – thanks
school to mobile devices
7. History of technology in education
1900: educational films
B.F.Skinner: programmed instruction
Seymour Papert (MIT, 1970): LOGO
Educational media booms: radio, TV, MC, VHS, internet
Distance education: form correspondence studies to Open Uni
Instructional design: military training
E-learning: Web-based learning environments
Learning analytics: “the hottest topic” from 2011
9. The main research strands in ET today
Learning environments: LMS, PLE, e-portfolio, mobile, smart
Content: standards, interoperability, design, e-textbook
Methods: serious gaming, self-directed learning
Learning analytics: digital footprint, privacy, visualization
Semantic web: annotation, learner models, recommendation
Learning theories: connectivism, social learning, knowledge
building, learning styles, cognitive load, communities of inquiry
10. Examples of our projects
Dictum: coaching environment for middle manager training
Paytec: interactive playdesk
SELEAG: adventure game to learn European history
Edufeedr: aggregator for blog-based courses
Digimina: self- & peer-assessment tool for teachers’ digital
competencies
Dippler: a next-gen online learning platform, digital learning
ecosystem
11. One question
Formulate one question about educational
technology: what confuses you or makes you
curious about?
12. Future trends: Educause Horizon report
Time to adoption: One Year or Less
Mobile Apps
1:1 Tablet Computing
Time to adoption: Two to Three Years
Game-based Learning
Learning Analytics
Time to adoption: Four to Five Years
Gesture-based Computing
Internet of Things
Timeline: www.educationfutures.com/resources/timeline
13. Educational technology studies
In USA (PennState, Syracuse, Illinois) since 1970-ties, In NL
(UTwente) since 1993, in Finland (Oulu & Jyväskylä) since 1999
Qualifications: instructional designer (military training, content
providers, service providers), training manager, IT
support, educational software developer
MA programme in TLU (since 2010)
12 students enrolled annually, mixed-mode studies
Curriculum: Project management, Research
methods, Instructional design, Learning environments and
learning networks, Composing digital learning
resources, Innovation management, Evaluation and research in
EdTech, Knowledge management, Observation practice
14. Internet hunt (Web quest)
Where can one attend a degree program in ed.
technology 100% online?
Find a profile of a person, working as an
instructional designer, and describe his/her main
competencies
How does the metadata harvesting work in
European Schoolnet’s LRE portal?