This document discusses the roles and functions of educational technology in the 21st century. It defines educational technology as the development, application, and evaluation of systems and techniques to improve the learning process. Some key roles of educational technology include providing 24/7 access to information, facilitating social interaction, and serving as a teaching aid. Important functions include improving teaching and learning, enhancing educational goals, training teachers, developing curriculum and materials, and identifying community needs. The document calls for comprehensive use of technology to develop 21st century skills, support innovative teaching and learning, and create robust education support systems.

1. Roles and Functions
of Educational
Technology in the 21st
Century

2. • The term “21st century” has become the
central part of educational thinking and
planning for the future.
• Creating a 21st century education system is
about making sure that all students are
prepared to succeed in a competitive world.

3. • Globalization has opened up the
world and allowed people to connect
in new exciting ways.
• We transmit our values and cultures
without the expectation of them
being adopted by our audience – just
accepted by them.

4. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
• Educational technology basically
means all the intellectual and
operational efforts made during
recent years to regroup, arrange and
systematize the application of
scientific methods to the
organization of new sets of
equipment and material so as to
optimize learning process. ( British
Journal of Educational Technology,
1971)

5. • Educational technology is the
development, application and
evaluation of systems, techniques
and aids to improve the process
of human learning. (Lucido and
Borbaro, 1997).

6. ROLES OF EDUCATIONAL
TECHNOLOGY
• Technology allows for 24/7 access to information;
• Constant social interaction;
• Easily created and shared digital content;
• Serves as an teaching aid in teaching-learning
process;
• Gives new information to both teacher and the
learner;
• Source of knowledge for every students;
• Makes the lesson easier and faster; and
• Provides interest to both teachers and learners.

7. IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
1. Improvement of Teaching
It tries to find out the different variables of teaching ,
their interlinks, effects upon each other, relationships,
theories of teaching, phases of teaching principles in
teaching, maxims of teaching. Developing the theories of
teaching , it helps in improving the quality of education
2. Analysis of the Teaching –Learning Process
Educational technology aims at analyzing the process of
teaching –learning process thoroughly. Tries to establish
better relationship between teaching and learning.

8. 3. Improvement of Learning
It facilitate more and more of learning in
less time. It takes the help of various
empirically established generalizations from
psychology , sociology, physical sciences,
engineering etc.
4. Enhancing Goals of Education
The objectives of education are being
reviewed and revised with the passage of
time. Educational technology helps in
enhancing the right objectives in the light
of the changed circumstances and changed
environment
5. Training to Teachers
The changed of environment with new
curriculum and new materials is to be
handled by the teachers. Right type of

9. 6. Development of Curriculum
Keeping in view the objectives of
education, which have been finalized by
education technology thereafter, comes the
developing right type of curriculum. Only a
suitable type of curriculum will help in the
attainment of goals.
7. Development of Teaching-Learning Materials
Teaching l-learning materials are also
important as anything else in the teaching-
learning process.
8. Teaching – Learning Strategies
A strategy plays an important role in the
hands of teacher in every teaching-learning
situation. The strategy has to be the right
one which should be according to the
materials and is able to bring about

10. 9. Development of Audio-Visual Aids
Audio-Visual aids have always played
an important role in teaching –learning
process. They need be used according
to the times.
10. Help in Overall Improvement
Educational technology helps in locating
the problems in the different areas of
education. It also helps in remedying
the draw-backs.
11. Identification of Needs of the Community
Educational technology identifies the
needs of the community. It helps in
providing equal education opportunities

11. There is a call for action to integrate
technology as a fundamental building
blocks into education in three broad areas
• Use technology comprehensively to develop
proficiency in 21st century skills-
Even if all students mastered core academic
subjects, they still would be woefully
underprepared to succeed in postsecondary
institutions and workplaces, which increasingly
value people who can use their knowledge to
communicate, collaborate, analyze, create,
innovate and solve problems.

12. • Use technology comprehensively to support
innovative teaching and learning
To keep pace with a changing world, schools
need to offer more rigorous, relevant and
engaging opportunities for students to learn-and
to apply their knowledge and skills in
meaningful ways.
• Use technology comprehensively to create
robust education support system
To be effective in schools and classrooms,
teachers and administrators need training, tools
and proficiency in 21st century skills themselves.
Used comprehensively, technology transforms
standards and assessments, curriculum and
instruction, professional development, learning
environments and administration.