My Five Biggest Fears About the Global Integration of Technology and 21st Century Education

There are many wonderful possibilities that could result from integrating new technology into current educational practices, but there is also plenty of room for catastrophes. By coupling my own experience with research on the topic, I’ve identified several fears about what could happen when new technology and 21st century education meet.  

Here are my five biggest fears about the situation and possible consequences:

1. Technology and Education Inequity

As efforts to move toward technology-based education increase, are we narrowing or widening the global digital divide?  If support is not given to students in economically disadvantaged schools, homes, and communities, technological integration may do as much harm as good.  According to Diverse Education, the gap could be widening.  Students and even whole education systems and communities, and countries could be digitally doomed. 

2. Reductions in Learning

With the boundless potential of education through the global learning community, it may seem impossible for a reduction in learning to occur, but as Chris Dede mentioned in Six Challenges for Educational Technology, some popular opinions dangerously perceive the simple access to technology as a “silver bullet” for educational success.  Although the integration of technology has been proven to increase student achievement, teachers must be active participants in the learning process, rather than by-standers or simple monitors of technological tools.   To achieve educational goals, technology must be used as a teaching resource, not a teacher replacement.

3. Lack of Support for Students and School Staff

Too often, technological advancements are expected to be utilized by teachers with little training, resulting in partially implemented tools, partially reached educational goals, and apprehensiveness among staff and students. 

4. Spotty Implementation

Often the result of overdependence on funding through grants rather than budgeted funding, fiscal limitations, or community infrastructure, spotty implementation often results in pockets of technology-infused instruction that fail to promote the technology adoption and application neccessary to teach lifelong learning strategies.

5.  Trolls and Inaccurate Data 

Filtering and monitoring trolls and inaccurate, web-published information is an overwhelming task little ability for control.  The challenge of teaching students to apply advanced critical-thinking skills for filtering and monitoring information on their own is daunting and often beyond student capabilities.

For further information, check out this link from North Central Regional Educational Laboratory and Learning Point Associates as well as Six Challenges for Educational Technology by Chris Dede.

Advertisement