Simple typology framework and classification

¶ … Typology

The British Journal of Educational Technology contains research and scholarship on the various methods that technological innovation can be blended with education and learning. From gender differences in online gaming to the technological methods used in online courses, this journal's research can be classified into four headings: online education, quality in technological education, educational resources, and learning using technology. The following typology will expound more on these categories.

Online Education

Since the Internet became widely available for educational purposes, the subject of online learning has been one gleaning much interest and raising much debate. In a journal about educational technology, one would expect online education to play a large role, and in the British Journal of Educational Technology it does. Articles in this category discuss education over the Internet. More specifically, these articles consist primarily of research about online classes that do not also meet physically. Some of the research areas covered under this heading include online education and economic matters, technology, and interacting such as posting and forum discussion. Because online education is a form of its own, this type of class gets special consideration and a category of its own in this typology.

Examples:

Lai, Kwok-Wing. (2006). e-Learning communities. The British Journal of Educational

Technology. (37) 4, 651-652.

Ghislandi, Patrizia et al. (2008). e-university: a cross-case study in four Italian universities. The British Journal of Educational Technology. 39(3), 443-455.

Benson, Angela, Lawler, Cormac, Whitworth, Andrew. (2008). Rules, roles and tools:

Activity theory and the comparative study of e-learning. The British Journal of Educational Technology. 39(3), 411-577.

Quality in Technological Education

Many assume that technology has, by its nature, amplified the quality of education and the classroom. Others may suggest that technology takes away from overall learning with its flashes. In this technology journal, much of the research has to do with how classrooms can be improved using technology and how the quality of technology can be assessed and improved. These articles compare the traditional classroom to the online classroom, discuss educational improvement, expose the limitations of certain forms of data and data collection, and research assessments.

This type of research allows students and teachers to assess for themselves the real impact of technology in the classroom.

Examples:

Buchanan, William. (2006). Correlation between academic and skills-based tests in computer networks. The British Journal of Educational Technology. 37(1), 69-78.

Kearney, Paul. (2007). Cognitive assessment of game-based learning. The British Journal of Educational Technology. 38(3), 529-531.

Kearney, Paul. (2007). Can a handheld gaming device be used as an effective assistive technology tool? The British Journal of Educational Technology. 38(3), 532-534.

Educational Resources

The research under this heading deals strictly with the types of resources available for students and teachers to further their teaching or learning using technology. Some of these articles dealt with tutoring using computers, providing resources for those with disabilities, using the Internet as a study or research tool, and using resources like Google. Scholars may look to the articles under this heading if they were curious about specific types of educational technology.

Examples:

Kinchen, Ian. (2006). Developing PowerPoint handouts to support meaningful learning.

The British Journal of Educational Technology. 37(4), 647-650.

Parsons, Sarah et al. (2006). The use of ICT by adults with learning disabilities in day and residential services. The British Journal of Educational Technology. 37(1), 31-44.

Tuzun, Haka. (2007). Blending video games with learning: Issues and challenges with classroom implementation in the Turkish context. The British Journal of Educational Technology. 38(3), 465-477.