Day 146 (of 2025/27) evolution of eThinking
Those of us who have seen the benefits of technology augmenting meaning and helping reframe the many ways that learning can be shine… other than tests and essays…
vs
I mean, it is one way to avoid disruption… ban it and hope it goes away. Though I still believe that the mobile tech with AI is the anticipated disruption many of us were pondering a few decades ago… the Netflix to our Blockbuster; the auto to the buggy whip industry; the book to scrolls and oral traditions.
I suspect some of the fear around tech is partly because fit so long it was a choice… you could do this learning stuff in a slightly different format (typing vs writing) but the sudden cheapness of powerful tech came in to environments not ready (especially mentally) for what it would change. Chromebooks ought not just be alternative textbooks nor typewriters… tech ought to augment so much more than that… but it’s hard for those unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the powerful device.
In a parallel, streaming media was successful in no small part because of the ‘practice’ YouTube provided. Personalized content vs communal entertainment. Many may wish for those “water cooler discussions” about a particular tv show that had to be watched live… but everyone’s got their own water bottle AND media algorithm…
Books were (and are) tried to be banned. Same with radio and television. I’d much prefer teachings leading to social media readiness than the magic of a birthday… it is what we did with our children at home – admittedly biased as I got to see the start of a Club Penguin which was a great online practice zone. More would be good – but need context of moderators and helpers because mistakes will be made. Apologies offered. Learnings learned. Ooh same in real world…
It helped my kids be ready for the online world which still too often mirrors the real world. Bullying. Mean comments. Sexualized harassment. Those haven’t gone away when devices are banned… and in many spaces using screens, the conversations and connections in person are rich, but not limited by physical geography… the majority of couples in my sphere met online…
But right now the inclusion strategies such as UDL and PBL that run counter to the false belief of memorize and test recall… and that’s upsetting some – esp those that wish that only the elite had the edge that tech tends to break down…
Less banning and more mindful practices. The medium is the message, even if some wish it were otherwise…unless, If we don’t talk about it, then it’s not happening, and we don’t have to deal with it.
Technolandy 
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