Educational Technology and the Learning Process

T he phrase educational technology carries differe t meanings to different people. Both of its major meanings were recognized by Commission on Instructional Technology in its report entitled To Improve Learning (1970). I have always favored second meaning identified in that report, namely, a body of technical knowledge about systematic design and conduct of education, based upon scientific research (Gagne', 1968). Obviously, though, any such systematic approach to education, and more specifically to instruction, must include a consideration of functions to be performed by media-that is, by what are called the things of learning (Armsey and Dahl, 1973).