Educational technology plays several important roles in 21st century education. It helps improve teaching and learning, analyze the teacher-learner process, and enhance educational goals. It is crucial for developing curriculum and teaching materials tailored to students' needs and the changing environment. Educational technology also aids teacher training, developing audio-visual aids, and identifying community needs to promote equal education opportunities.

1. Roles and Functions of
Education 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 to
make sure students are prepared to succeed in a
competitive world-a world with plenty of
opportunities for highly skilled individuals and
limited options for everyone else. In order to prepare
students to play their role in the 21st century society
we are a part of, the following can be considered
when deciding how education will look in our schools
and classroom.

3. • Instruction should student-centered
– Students would gather information on their own, under the
guidance of their teacher.
• Education should be collaborative
– Students should learn how to recognize the different strengths
and talents each person can bring to a project.
• L earning should have context
– Students will be much more motivated to learn something
that they can see the value in.

4. The Role of Technology in 21st
Century Learning
1. Technology allows for 24/7 access to
information
2. Constant social interaction, and
3. Easily created and shared digital content.

5. Important Functions
of Educational
Technology

6. Improvement of Teaching
Educational Technology analyses the process
of teaching thoroughly. It tries to find out the
different variables of teaching, their interlinks,
effects upon each other, relationships,
relationships, teaching principles maxims of
teaching etc. By developing the theories of
teaching. It helps in improving the quality of
education.

7. Analysis of the Teacher-Learning
Process
Educational Technology aims at analyzing the
process of teaching-learning thoroughly. It
tries to find out the different variables of
teaching their interlinks effects upon each
other, relationship etc. It is also concerned
with various phases of teaching. The principles
of teaching and the maxims of teaching are
also evaluated by it.

8. Improvement of Learning
Educational Technology analyses the process
of learning and the related theories. It
facilitates more and more of learning in less
time. It takes the help of various empirically
established generalizations from psychology,
sociology, physical sciences, engineering etc.

9. Enhancing Goals of Education
The objectives of education are being
reviewed and revised with the passage of
time. Educational technology helps in finding
out the right objectives. Everything in this
universe is undergoing tremendous changes
and with a very fast speed. Educational
Technology helps in enhancing the right
objectives in the light of the changed
circumstances and changed environment.

10. Training to Teachers
The changed type of environment with new
curriculum and new materials is to be handled
by the teachers. Right type of training to the
teachers is the need of the hour. Educational
Technology can render its valuable help in the
training of teachers also.

11. Development of Curriculum
Keeping in view the objectives of education, which
have been finalized by education technology
thereafter, comes the question of developing right type
of curriculum. Only a suitable type of curriculum will
help in the attainment of goals.
Curriculum is the total teaching-learning environment,
which has to be modified and remodeled in the light of
latest thoughts. Educational technology can do this job
of developing a suitable curriculum properly.

12. Development of Teaching-Learning
Materials
Teaching- learning materials are also as
important as anything else in the teaching-
learning process. They have to be in
accordance with the environment of the
learners.

13. Teaching- Learning Strategies
A strategy plays an important role in the
hands of a 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 effective teaching
learning.

14. Development of Audio-Visual Aids
Audio-Visual aids have always played an
important role in the teaching-learning
process. They need to be used in accordance
to the times.

15. 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.

16. Identification of Needs of the
Community
Educational Technology identifies the needs of
the community. It helps in providing equal
education opportunities to backward people,
disadvantaged students and deprived sections
of society.