Educational technology plays several important roles in 21st century education by supporting student-centered, collaborative learning with real-world context. It provides constant access to information and opportunities for social interaction and digital content creation. Technology should be integrated comprehensively to develop 21st century skills through innovative teaching, and to create robust education support systems. Key functions of educational technology include improving teaching and learning, analyzing and enhancing the teaching-learning process, developing curriculum and teaching strategies, and overall improvement of the education system through evaluation and feedback.

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

2. Globalization has opened up the world and
allowed people to connect in new and exciting
ways. The “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

3. The following can be considered
when deciding how Education will
look in our schools and
classrooms.
• Instruction should be student-centered
Instead of passively receiving
information, the students would gather
information on their own, under the guidance
of their teacher.

4. • Education should be Collaborative
Students should learn how to recognize
the different strengths and talents each
person can bring to a project, and change
roles depending on those attributes.
• Learning should have Context
Students will be much more motivated
to learn something that they can see the
value in.

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

6. 3 Broad areas to Integrate
Technology as a Fundamental
Building Block in Education
1. Use technology comprehensively to develop
proficiency in 21st century skills.
2. Use technology comprehensively to support
innovative teaching and learning.
3. Use technology to create robust education
support systems.

7. Important functions of Educational
Technology
1. Improvement of Teaching
Analyses the process of teaching
thoroughly, by developing the theories of
teaching, it helps in improving the quality of
education.
2. Analysis of the Teaching-learning Process
It is also concerned with various phases
of teaching. It tries to establish better
relationship between teaching and learning.

8. 3. Improvement of Learning
Analyses the process of learning and the
related theories. It takes the help of various
empirically established generalizations from
psychology, sociology, physical sciences,
engineering etc.

9. 4. Enhancing Goals of Education
It helps in enhancing the right objectives
in the light of the change circumstances and
changed environment.
5. Training to Teachers
The changed type of environment with
new curriculum and new materials is to be
handled by the teachers.

10. 6. Development of Curriculum
Curriculum is the total teaching-learning
environment, which has to be modified and
remodeled in the light of latest thoughts.
7. Teaching –Learning Strategies
The strategy has to be the right one,
which should be according to the materials
and is able to bring about effective teaching
learning.

11. 9. Development of Audio-Visual Aids
Audio-Visual aids have played an important
role in the teaching-learning process. They need
to be used according to the times.
10.Help in Overall Improvement
Evaluation of the teaching-learning process
is also better because through feedback, things
are improved thoroughly and there is better
control over the process of education.

12. 11. Identification of Needs of the Community
It helps in providing equal education
opportunities to backward people,
disadvantaged students and deprived
sections of the society.