Scientific Methods in Educational Technology

Technology provides tools to try out different designs, so that instead of theories of education, we may begin to develop a science of education. But it cannot be an analytic science like physics or psychology; rather it must be a design science more like aeronautics or artificial intelligence. For example, in aeronautics, the goal is to elucidate how different designs contribute to lift, drag maneuverability, etc. Similarly, a design science of education must determine how different designs of learning environments contribute to learning, cooperation, motivation, etc. Educational technologists would not, therefore, consider the computer as just another piece of equipment. If educational technology is concerned with thinking carefully about teaching and learning, then a computer has a contribution to make irrespective of its use as a means of implementation, for the design of computer-based learning environments gives us a new perspective on the nature of teaching and learning and indeed on general educational objectives. Even from a pure “engineering perspective,” it doesn’t make much sense to talk about Educational Technology just in terms of Instructional design models or instructional design methods. An instructional designer also feels concerned by more fundamental disciplines like general learning theory or pedagogical theory. These theories provide interesting insights on issues like the relation between learning type or learning level and appropriate pedagogic strategy, how effect and motivation may influence the learning process, what multimedia design can learn from theories on human information processing or cognitive load, why metacognition and collaborative learning is important etc. The book will be of use to the students, researchers and general readers of this subject.

Contents: • Education, International Education, Teacher Education and School Counselor: Role of Self-Activity • Educational Projects, Practices and Global Partnerships: A Comparative Studies Perspective • Hypermedia Development Methodology • The Technology in Education: On-line • Technology Integration—Challenges and Opportunities • Test Development