Digitize this classroom

As an educator in the 21st century, I find that I am constantly being introduced to new and appealing EdTech to use in the classroom. Not a day goes by without a colleague mentioning new applications for graphing functions or how they have expanded the use of their GoogleClassroom to insure student accountability. I often struggle with the increasing demand for technology in the classroom, not because of a lack of technological competancy, but because it raises many important questions as I came to realize at a  presentation by Andrew Campbell at the STAO conference in November of last year.

What problems could possibly arise from the use of EdTech? Most teachers see EdTech as an overwhelmingly positive thing, allowing our students to be interconnected and to explore the world around them at the click of a mouse. Furthermore, gamification and badge systems have been shown to largely increase student performance and motivation.  Well…

“In the stampede to "digitize the classroom" responsible educators need to pause and consider the negative impacts of EdTech. In this provocative session I'll examine five things "21st Century Educators" should be thinking about: Student data privacy, Corporate Influence, Equity, Professionalism and Infrastructure.”

Reading the STAO program on the plane ride over, I was very intrigued by this description. Whether it was because I enjoy challenging my opinions or because some dark corner of me has become more and more concerned and disenchanted by the digitization of my classroom, I have no idea, but I did know that I had to go to quell this inner frustration.

The 5 concerns discussed by Campbell rang very true for me and highlighted many issues that had been grating at my colleagues for years. 

Student data privacy 

Corporate Influence 

Equity 

Professionalism 

Infrastructure

These are all very important considerations for achieving innovation in classroom technology without undermining the ethics of our educational system. Please do take time to go read his points on his education blog available HERE. Of course, many might feel internal push back in reading the negatives of our much beloved technological revolution, but try to think of all the GAFE Summits as the Pros and this article as some of the Cons. It may just add some balance to the argument. 

Other less urgent concerns that remained unaddressed that day come to mind regarding the implementation of new EdTech:

Is it something I will use consistently or will this just be another username and password to forget?

Is it easy to use? For the teacher? for the student? for the parent?   

Is it necessary?

Is it improving our ability to teach or just replacing other tools?

Is it increasing student autonomy, motivation, achievement, etc?

These are the questions that I ask myself when looking at emerging technologies related to my classroom, and that is what I’m choosing to explore here. I hope you’ll join me in exploring these new technologies. Feel free to provide feedback and anecdotes.