Anthropologists and sociologists have found that technological innovators are more likely to find success when they: (1) recognize the group's unique identity; (2) assist the group in understanding and using the technology; (3) empathize with the group's environmental and cultural needs; and (4) empower the group to meet those needs. After reviewing related education literature, 12 questions (3 each for 4 factors) were established for considering how articles in the major research journals of the Association for Educational Communication and Technology (AECT) from 1953-1993 addressed issues that demonstrated an awareness of the teachers' culture in school. Of the 847 articles reviewed, 24% recognized the teachers' roles; 13% demonstrated an understanding of the teachers' working conditions; 15% provide specific explanations of how educational technology can be integrated into school structures; and 10% identified specific needs and corresponding educational technology solutions for empowering teachers. Recommendations made from this analysis include greater emphasis on teacher conditions and relevance in the research literature; articulation of how educational technology can be made effective within the schools' culture; and strategies for empowering teachers through educational technology resources. (Contains 30 references.) (Author/JLB)