9.1 Candidates will be able to understand the pros and cons of technology from a variety of critical perspectives and apply that understanding to evaluating current and potential technology in schools and society.
In our seminar course, ET 690, we read several books that reviewed different perspectives on the implementation of technological innovations. In doing so we read a book by Neil Postman that discussed the pros and cons of implementing technology and the need for a shared narrative, or 'god' to ensure it is successful. Below you will find the paper in its entirety.
9.2 Candidates will be able to demonstrate how technology can be used to empower some and disempower others in schools.
In the same seminar course, we read a book titled Geek Heresy written by Kentaro Toyama. In this book, Toyama discussed technology and its capability to cause social change. This meets objective 9.2 as it evaluates the book's main point in that technology is a mode for amplifying human forces that already exist. In reading about Toyama's experiences, the reader was able to understand how technology's impact is dependent on many requirements which may empower some and disempower others in schools.
9.3 Candidates will be able to use critical frameworks to think about the value of specific technologies.
In ET 660, Digital Innovative Schools, we each completed a research paper on a type of school or specific technology. I researched about The Fusion Academy which is a 1:1 school. This type of school was not as imagined initially, 1:1 being one device to one student. Instead, this was a school that was one teacher to one student. This model was a new idea for me, but I was quickly able to see how the use of technology made this type of learning situation possible and successful for all parties. In the paper, I have outlined how the use of a specific Learning Management System (LMS) has allowed these students to have learning personalized for them. Without this technology, all stakeholders wouldn't be as involved in the student's plan and progress for learning. The technology, evaluated by critical frameworks, demonstrates extreme value to this school and its students.