THE EVOLUTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION         3200w

This paper discussed the definitions and evolution of instructional technology in America and Malaysia. The paper begins with the definitions of instructional technology and its development from 1920s to the present time and how it relates with the development of ICT. At Sultan Idris Education University Malaysia, the first Teacher Training Collge started by the British in 1922, instructional technology began with visual instruction in 1922 and later in 2002 developed a course in instructional design and technology in the undergraduate and post graduate teacher training program. However, the influence of ICT is affecting the direction of instructional technology in Malaysia.

The Definitions of Instructional Technology and its Evolution

Definitions of Technology

Before we begin with the term instructional technology, it would be better to explain the word ‘technology’ in the context of education and training. Technology in our understanding can mean two things: technology as a tool for learning and technology as a process to improve learning. Galbraith (1967) defined technology as the systematic application of scientific or other organised knowledge to practical tasks.

Galbraith’s definition of systematic application implies the use of structured approach using certain principles to produce some practical tasks. Application of scientific knowledge means the structured approach may use certain ideas or theories, researched and tested and its application validated through experiments. So in the case of instruction, the technology here denotes the intricate process of solving human learning. We believe this is what instructional technology or educatio