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The impact of society on educational technology |
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| Authors: | Gary Boyd |
| Institution: | Gary Boyd is Professor of Education, Educational Technology, with special interst in computer assisted learning, at Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1M8. |
| Abstract: | Much has been written about the impact of the new technologies on society by Jacques Ellul, Stafford Beer, and many others. But there has been very littleanalysis of the reverse—the impact of evolving commercial, political, and institutional interests, and their ideologies, on the development of technology. Educational technology in particular has been and is being shaped by these societal forces. This article presents a theoretical perspective on the interaction and gives several instances of cultural impact on the development of computer/video-mediated educational technology in the US, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Increased awareness of societal shaping should lead us to new research areas, and ultimately to more democratic, more fruitful, and more viable educational innovations. |
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