The two terms including instructional technology and educational technology have been used commonly over many years.
They are being used interchangeably, but there are some significant differences that need to be highlighted.
We can say that instructional technology is a part of educational technology because the latter includes instruction, assessment, and communication technology.
In this article, we will define educational and instructional technology separately and then find the difference between them with a table.
Table of Contents
What is Educational Technology?
Educational technology is the academic use of scientific knowledge, pedagogical practices, equipment, and materials to enhance the complete process of education.
It involves both software and hardware, psychological, and pedagogic principles to create efficient and interesting education.
Education technology is wide which encompasses planning, implementation, assessment, and management of education systems.
It also has extended into the curriculum development, training of teachers, administration of education, assessment, and planning of education policies.
Education technology is an amalgamation of psychology, sociology, communication theory, and management science in improving the learning outcomes and the effectiveness of the institution.
1. Examples of Educational Technology
Some examples of educational technology include:
- Interactive Board Smart classrooms.
- Learning Management System (LMS) such as Moodle or Google classroom.
- Online learning systems and MOOCs.
- Educational programs on television or cellphones.
- Online e-books or audio-books.
- Computer aided learning programs.
- Artificial intelligence and data analytics in education.
What is Instructional Technology?
Instructional technology is a subdivision of educational technology. It specifically deals with design, development, implementation, and evaluation of instructional materials and experiences associated with learning.
Its main aim is to enhance learning and performance of learners.
Instructional technology uses learning theories, instruction design models, and media tools to design structured and goal-oriented instruction.
It focuses on the way the content is delivered, interaction of learners with the delivered materials, and how learning outcomes are evaluated.
Instructional technology, unlike educational technology, is more micro-focused and such focuses primarily on classroom instruction, training programs, and learning modules.
1. Examples of Instructional Technology
Some examples of instructional technology are as follows:
- LMS (Canvas and Moodle)
- Online coursework and online lesson plans.
- Presentation of implementing multimedia.
- Web-based quizzes and tests.
- Simulation and virtual laboratory.
- Educational videos and tutorials.
- Adaptive learning software
12 Difference Between Educational Technology and Instructional Technology
Let’s find the difference between educational technology and instructional technology with the help of a table and some bullet points.
| Basis | Educational Technology | Instructional Technology |
| Scope and Focus | Broad and system-oriented | Narrow and instruction-oriented |
| Purpose | Improve overall education system | Improve teaching and learning |
| Target Audience | Institutions, teachers, learners, administrators | Teachers, trainers, learners |
| Function | Planning, management, evaluation | Design and delivery of instruction |
| Application Areas | Curriculum, administration, assessment | Classroom teaching and training |
| Role of Technology | Includes both tech and non-tech methods | Primarily technology-based tools |
| Theoretical Foundation | Education, psychology, sociology | Learning theories and instructional design |
| Design Approach | Macro-level educational planning | Micro-level lesson and course design |
| Goal | Educational effectiveness and efficiency | Learning achievement and performance |
| Evaluation and Assessment | System-wide evaluation | Learner performance assessment |
| Professional Roles | Educational administrators, curriculum designers, policy makers | E-learning software developers, teachers, content creators |
| Examples in Practice | Guidelines for AI use across schools | Setting up Google classroom for upcoming online classes |
1. Scope and Focus
- Educational Technology: The educational technology is concerned with the whole educational system and its outcomes.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is concerned with instructional delivery of learning materials via online tools or gadgets.
2. Purpose
- Educational Technology: Educational technology strives to enhance education as a system.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is geared towards enhancing instruction of learning and teaching students.
3. Target Audience
- Educational Technology: Educational technology deals with the institutions and system administrators who plan and execute learning guidelines.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is focused on the learner and the instructors who are directly involved in learning.
4. Function
- Educational Technology: Educational technology is involved with planning and management of curriculum, communication, and assessment methods.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is involved with the designing of learning experiences.
5. Application Areas
- Educational Technology: Educational technology is implemented in the areas of curriculum, administration, and evaluation.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is implemented in lessons and training.
6. Role of Technology
- Educational Technology: Educational technology can be both conventional and advanced.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology depends much on using digital means.
7. Theoretical Foundation
- Educational Technology: Educational technology is based on various fields including education, sociology, and psychology to decide how and why of educational planning.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is anchored on instructional design and learning theories to a larger extent.
8. Design Approach
- Educational Technology: Educational technology employs the macro approach for designing and planning educational methods.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology has an approach that is micro and learner-centered.
9. Goal
- Educational Technology: Technology in the education sector is intended to improve the functionality of the whole of the system.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is expected to bring success to the learner.
10. Evaluation and Assessment
- Educational Technology: Educational technology measures educational outcome based on the systems used.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology measures instructional effectiveness through assessment or tests of students.
11. Professional Roles
- Educational Technology: Educational technologists can be curriculum planners, education administrators, policy designers and system evaluators.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technologists are instructional designers, e-learning developers, instructors, and content creators.
12. Examples in Practice
- Educational Technology: Educational technology is the implementation of a nationwide policy of digital learning.
- Instructional Technology: Instructional technology is designing an online science lesson with the help of multimedia.
Conclusion
We hope that now you can clearly state differences between educational technology and instructional technology.
It is also crucial that you understand that they both are complementary to each other for their usefulness and impact.
Since educational technology decides what and why students should learn, instructional technology decides how they should be given instructions to learn.
Instructional technology is highly dependent on digital tools in present times, while educational technology could include online or offline methods both.
