What does Instructional Technology mean?

I feel that the word technology is a very broad concept that can describe anything from a mechanical pencil to a robot (In other words—it is hard to define.). I would like to think that technology has been used in instruction since it has been available-but I know depending on the resources available that may not be the case. That being said, I believe that the term Instructional Technology describes people using some form of tools, programs, or instruments to educate or train others.
Some examples of Instructional Technology would be the use of a Smartboard in a classroom or presentation. Smartboards can be used in so many ways. For instance, they can be used as a means to lecture from, to show video clips on, or to utilize the internet. They can also be used interactively with programs and activities the audience can participate in. Another way to use technology for instruction would be using Chat rooms or Wikkis. At the school where I teach, our Media and Technology Specialist started Wikkis for the kids in book club last year. The kids could access the Wikki from home or from school, and were able to discuss the books they were reading via the internet. It was a great way for them to share information with each other and a teacher they didn’t get to see on a regular basis. The use of GPS’s during a lesson is another way of incorporating technology into instruction. I have seen these used with buddy classes (older children paired with younger children) where the students traveled around the school finding different programmed locations where they would find a curriculum related question to answer before moving on to the next location.
As more technological advances are made, we have more and more opportunities to use it for instructional purposes. In many cases, technology makes both learning and instructing more interesting.