What is Instructional Technology (IT) to me?
What does the field encompass? What are its goals?

Before I begin, let me first explain some of my background so that you will better understand my point of view. I come from a different I.T. field: Information Technology. My focus of studies has been in Web and Internet technologies, from Web pages and applications to the servers and network backbone that the Internet relies on. Information Technology is the implementation science, skills, and technology to aid the capture, processing, storage and retrieval, and communication of information.

I believe that Instructional Technology is technology that aids in the learning process and can be best defined by understanding the pieces. By the pieces, I mean what makes up the field of IT. Thomas Reeves believes that IT can be divided into “learning with” and “learning from” technology. And he sub-divides these into media and technology. Taylor divides his definition of IT into tutor, tool, and tutee (Taylor, R. The computer in the school: Tutor, tool, tutee. 1980).

From my perspective, I would divide Instructional Technology into three pieces: