Chapter 6: Educational Technology and Sociocultural Influences: Context Does Matter

This chapter examines how sociocultural variables in technology-based learning environments influence teaching and learning activities and organizational structure. It acknowledges an all-important principle that context matters. In order to understand and appreciate the interrelationships among variables in complex and dynamic educational settings, it is essential to take into consideration the context in which teaching and learning occur. In this chapter, we discuss the methodological perspectives that recognize the influence of contextual factors in education and we situate this discussion in current educational research and practice policies. Specifically, we discuss some of the key sociocultural issues in the study of educational technology and highlight a number of educational technology projects that illustrate contextual factors and their impact on teaching, learning, and organizational structure.