Session 2 Gary Stager “Has EdTech Jumped the Shark?”

Gary Stager
www.stager.org/acec
Has educational technology jumped the shark?
Digital Hand out – www.stager.org/acec
Disturbing Trends – over emphasis of ICT
•    Absence of memory
•    False complexity/hierarchies
•    Refusal to connect to the world of children
•    Supporting dreadful practices
•    Lack of innovation
•    In ability to articulate goals
Interactive whiteboards
•    Which problem are they solving?
•    Pre-Grutenberg technology – Too much sage on the stage
•    Reinforce the dominance of the front of the room
•    Overemphasis on ICT/IT
•    Confusion over difference between teaching and learning
•    Instructionsism over constructionism
•    Less us mort then
         What are we doing with the stuff

Hysteria of the real power of the internet
•    Emphasis is on
         Looking stuff up
         Delivering content
         Sharing lesson plans
         Surveillance
•    Should focus on
         Democratisation of publishing
         Unprecedented opportunities for collaboration
21st century skills
•    developed by the hardware and software companies
•    seem similar to 19th century skills nothing truly this century

Some interesting thoughts here.  Not sure if I agree with it all but our presenter has made some good points on how we think about good teaching, especially when we start using tools for the sake of using new tools.  I have always been susceptible to the new gadget because I am a techno nerd.  However, as we discussed in the opening session it is the pedagogy behind it all that matters….  Not the gadget.  I guess the question now is what is the correct pedagogies to focus on….  And how do we as educators develop required skills?

I recorded the session and will seek the authors permission to post as a podcast in the coming days. 

technorati tags:acec06

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