What is educational technology?

As an academic discipline, the study of educational technology prepares individuals by helping them acquire a deeper understanding and mastery of:

• learning resources: messages, people, materials, devices, techniques and settings;
• processes for analyzing and devising solutions to those problems through research, theory, design, production, evaluation, utilization;
• the processes involved in organization and personnel management.

The focus is on effective processes to facilitate learning using technologies and understanding the impacts of technology on learners and organizations.

Areas of specialization may include distance learning, human performance technology, technology integration and management, media design and development, learning sciences, instructional design, change management, and communications processes. It should be noted that the field is not merely concerned with learning technical skills nor the simplistic use of technology for technology’s sake in teaching, a common misperception by non-educators. Practitioners in the field typically hold an advanced degree, Master's or doctorate.

Retrieved from: http://etec.hawaii.edu/aboutbackground.html