The Field of Instructional Technology

Have you ever wondered what makes an airplane fly? More importantly, how are airplanes mass-produced? How are people trained to build, fly, sell, and continuously improve airplanes? Now begin to think about organizations such as the military, business, or educational institution. How do they run so smoothly? What keeps them incessantly current and able to expand or adapt to the changing world? The answers to all of these questions lie within the field of Instructional Technology and its theories and systematic processes.

Within any field during the course of human history, came an increase in population and demand, which fed a growing need for leadership, protection, products, and education. The management of all this change is reliant on systematic use of research and theory. One field that can make change happen efficiently and effectively is Instructional Technology. It may even be referred to as the secret weapon that any productive system uses.

Instructional technology emphasizes the scientific and systems approach of instructional problem solving, (Cutshall, 1999). Instructional Technology is used to increase learning using systemic and systematic processes. This approach is an orderly and carefully planned process, which includes measurable outcomes. The systemic approach means that the processes are interrelated and affect the entire organization. Other primary functions of instructional technology include human performance improvement, organizational change, cost benefits, and reform, (AECT, 2001).

Instructional Technology combines theory and practice of five specific areas of study. Using design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation, instructional technology provides efficient and effective working environments.

This figure shows the five domains that are identified within the field of Instructional Technology.

Figure – Instructional Technology and its Five Domains (Seels and Glasgow, 1998)

Design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation are the five domains of instructional technology. The domains are synergistic and can improve the learning and working environment of organizations and institutions of almost every field.

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