What is educational technology?

The meaning of Educational Technology can vary in the way from which perspective we look at the subject as a teacher or student. Learning management systems, information and communications technology, digital tools, school infrastructure and media - all may be included in the most comprehensive definition of EdTech.
However, common ground for all these terms and key role is facilitating learning process with technological development and improving performance for the best educational experience for each active participator based on resources and processes. Requirements from the global market dictate the amount of new knowledge which each employee and entrepreneur should absorb quickly for their own competitiveness, growth and collaborative industrial or commercial race. The self–propelling wheel concentrates its roots especially on the work of our minds. To be more precise – performance of learning.

It all started from the book.

There is no better code than language to implement evolution of thinking in history of human evolution. While behaviorism had been adding enormous impact (good and bad), learning theory evolved giving teqniques for first applications. There is an operant conditioning through stimulus which leads to a response and then that stimulus that follows that response. Programmed instructions in exercises took their lineage from traditional paper textbooks where you need to choose the answer or write it.
The computer has become such an attention-absorbing invention with the gaming industry in the background that education has ceased to be a boring obligation.

Fundamental presence of tablets, laptops, interactive boards and even China’s AI headbands maximized concentration and improved effectivity of teaching, but at the same time these inventions are bringing problems with privacy and data security. Prevalent phishing attacks or malicious ransomware and malware attacks have forced the education industry to spend a lot of money on cybersecurity specialists. To protect tools from data breaches, institutions are educating users about threats, providing security applications for employees, implementing Multi-Factor Authentication and SGW (Secure Web Gateway) which is cybersecurity product for URL filtering. Higher education institutions alone spend an estimated $6 billion annually on cybersecurity, with projections suggesting a 7.3% compound annual growth rate in spending through 2028.

Learning theory and learning platforms for each social groups.

Learning platforms in any topic are operating on segmentation latest information on smaller portions which is obviously strategy for fuel adaptability of mind for a newest and memorization speed with climbing to goal by small steps of the knowledge ladder. Projects of learning platforms are based on principles how information is received, organized, stored, and retrieved. Following this path, companies are trying to customize the learning experience and see significant differences in behavior between target groups. Young teenagers bet on intuitive, playable interface, where adult students driven by career advancement and personal growth are focusing on advanced analytics, real-time feedback, and mobile accessibility. In the market mostly affordable and flexible about content are Udemy, for creative competencies the best seems to be Skillshare and looking from career growth leads LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda).

Teaching aproach with digital media.

In the market race for pocket and user attention there are Google Classroom, Blackboard Learn and Moodle. Modern learning management systems paved the way for remote mode education. Teachers can decide how to manage their course for a broad audience not only close to one location. Those LMS developers consider that learning process depends on social interaction, often negotiation about desired approach between student and teacher, but even with advanced discussion boards real contact is more preferred by lecturers. Due to habituation or it is result of of the belief that the student is not sufficiently involved in the learning process. Considering that learning is a constant and obligatory prerequisite for staying employed open-source LMS they will increase their profits from globalized learning industry. What is important, adult learners as a person who must reconcile learning with other more professional commitments value autonomy and flexibility in learning process. Immense help for adult students is recorded lecture and uploaded material. It is worth noting that information and communication technology in education are changing with the needs for a safe, ethical, and legally managed environment. ISTE Standards showed new guidelines on how the education system should look at education from two perspectives. A student stopped being only a passive recipient, he has become a digital citizen with rights, responsibilities, and opportunities. The role of the teacher is like a partner, not a person who only manages the group, naturally the attitude of the group to the learning process is also important.

Facilitate transformative learning.

Will the future execution of projects take place in a metaverse?

AI tools speed up work on educational materials. Just a few years ago, some tedious research required vast amounts of energy. Today with automation the road to accomplish more creative and complex tasks is reduced by optimization and better organization.
For each educator it is important to know not only ChatGPT, Writesonic for writing or Midjourney to replace photos stocks or graphic designers.

Virtual Reality platforms seems to be closed only for development countries where students can finance VR headsets. Universe by View Sonic changed that false conviction. This virtual world and classroom where teacher and student interact with customer avatar reduces the generation distance that often occurs between the recipient and the sender in school and help with standard fear among students from standing in front of a traditional board. 3D class work for different operation systems and reduces the need to build more expanded buildings for school infrastructure. Also, long-distance access to the desired educational institution from provincial areas is no longer a barrier.

Educational technology is a multifaceted concept that extends beyond simple tools and gadgets. It encapsulates an entire ecosystem designed to improve the educational experience from multiple angles. Whether viewed from the perspective of a teacher or a student, edtech encompasses learning management systems, ICT, digital tools, school infrastructure, and media. By understanding these components, we can better appreciate the diverse and dynamic nature of educational technology and its potential to transform the learning process.