What is Instructional Technology? That is the question....

There has been many attempts to define our field over several years.  Audiovisual instruction, Audiovisual communications and Educational technology are just a few of the many terms that define who we are.  Because of the constant change in technology and the variety of people that have many different views in which they focus their attention, its hard to be content on just one definition. 

Early on,  the field of instructional technology focused on instructional media.  On through the 1920's there was an increase in the visual instructional materials, which became known as the "Visual instruction movement."  Educators used films, pictures, and lantern slides in the classroom as a tool in which technology was implemented into their lessons.  Starting in the late 1920's through the 1940's the visual movement changed into audiovisual instruction.  And this lasted through the 1950's.

In the 1960's and 1970's  instructional technology became viewed as a process rather than just associating it with media.  There was more planning, selecting of materials and managing that was associated with instructional design.  There was an "emphasis on learning rather than on instruction." (pg. 4)
Beginning in the 1970's there was a Commission on Instructional Technology established and they sought to have technology in the classrooms to improve the learning process.  Technology in the classroom was implemented into lessons as an extra method that went along with the lesson that brought about more effective instruction. 

The Association for Educational Communication and Technology adopted a new definition in 1977.  This definition in its length and complexity brought about new terminology that became known throughout the profession.  The 1994 definition strives to go beyond viewing instructional technology as a process and looked at technological advances and new instructional strategies.

In the past few years there have been several new definitions made.  The AECT, in 2006, created a new definition that is one sentence and has added several new words to the definition indicating the importance of professionalism of the field and analyzing the needs of the learners in determining appropriate technological resources. 

The definition I came up with as an educator is as follows.

      Instructional technology is utilizing technological resources in which educators implement in the classroom, to facilitate and improve learning and performance.  Educational technology is the practice of design, development, utilization, and management of those resources that educators use for developing learning in the classroom and beyond the classroom.