📑 EdTech Resistance
If these are signals of an emerging edtechlash, then educators, decision-makers and the edtech industry would benefit from being engaged in the key issues that are now emerging, namely that:
- private sector influence and outsourcing is perceived to be detrimental to public education
- lack of edtech diversity may reproduce the pedagogic assumptions of engineers
- student distrust of engineering solutions and continuing trust in human interactions as central to education
- there may be bad science behind positive industry and investor PR
- new data protection regulations question how easily student ‘consent’ can be assumed when the balance of power is unequal
- algorithmic ‘accuracy’ is being exposed as deeply flawed and full of biases
- algorithmic flaws can lead to devastating consequences at huge costs to individuals, the public, and institutions
- increasingly invasive surveillance proposals raise new ethical and human rights issues that are likely to be acted upon in coming years.
We should not and cannot ignore these tensions and challenges. They are early signals of resistance ahead for edtech which need to be engaged with before they turn to public outrage. By paying attention to and acting on edtech resistances it may be possible to create education systems, curricula and practices that are fair and trustworthy. It is important not to allow edtech resistance to metamorphose into resistance to education itself.
In a presentation for EdTech KnowHow conference, Stavanger, Norway, 26 September 2019, Ben Williamson discusses the topic of resistance to technology in education. This is a useful post as it provides a broad survey of the different ways that people have been critically engaging in this space. Whether it be general questions about technology, concern over diversity, push back from students, scepticism from investors, new regulations and issues with algorithms. I think what this highlights the need to be better informed when engaging with technology.
Another month has flown on by. My family and I have just gotten back from some time away in Vanuatu. I think it is fair to say that Google and Uber have some work to do there in regards to implementing self-driving cars. It felt like there are two maps, one plotting where to go, the other documenting the multitude of pot-holes. I must admit it was nice to stop.
In regards to work, there are always changes going on. The focus though continues to be automating the process for on-boarding schools. I wrote a longer reflection about that here. My biggest takeaway is that:
At the same time we are also grappling with how to best support schools already on. This is especially challenging when it comes to tasks like setting up a timetable that schools may only do once a year.
Personally, I have continued reading Why We Can’t Write. I also worked on my site. This included improving the search thanks to some help from John Johnston, as well as fix up the header images. In regards to my listening, I have been really getting into Lana Del Ray, Montaigne, Charli XCX, M83 and G Flip, as well as diving into the Switched on Pop podcast. I also watched the Chernobyl miniseries.
Learning and Teaching
Children’s books are tackling dark and taboo topics. Morris Gleitzman says that’s nothing to be afraid of
Morris Gleitzman and Jo Lampert spoke as part of a panel discussing the place of literature to tackle complex topics.
Why the Periodic Table of Elements Is More Important Than Ever
Bloomberg collects together a number of essays exploring the various elements of the periodic table.
Re-imagining Education for Democracy with Stewart Riddle
Stewart Riddle discusses the issue of democracy in education in an interview with Cameron Malcher on the TER Podcast.
Learning Science: The Problem With Data, And How You Can Measure Anything
Julian Stodd provides a useful introduction to quantitative and qualitative data.
One for the books: the unlikely renaissance of libraries in the digital age
Often the discussion around the future of libraries focuses on technology and spaces, however Jane Cadzow’s deep dive uncovers the more human side of libraries throughout Australia.
Technology
The Perfect User
Cherie Lacey, Catherine Caudwell and Alex Beattie discuss the ironic templated sense of identity perpetuated by the humane technology movement.
Privacy matters because it empowers us all
Carissa Véliz pushes back on the idea that anyone can say they have ‘nothing to hide’. Whether it be attention, money, reputation or identity, she argues that we all have something worth getting at.
EdTech Resistance
Ben Williamson provides a broad survey of the different ways that people have been critically engaging with technology in education.
Apps Script Pulse
Martin Hawksey has created a site to collate different Google App Script projects.
The Psychology of Silicon Valley
Antony Funnell speaks with Katy Cook on the RN Future Tense podcast about the many influences on Silicon Valley.
Reflection
Media Accounting 101: Appholes and Contracts
Craig Mod explores the agreements we make that we may not always be aware that we are making.
Misogyny, male rage and the words men use to describe Greta Thunberg
Camilla Nelson and Meg Vertigan survey the way in which males have responded to Greta Thunberg.
Kate O’Halloran made a mistake on Twitter. But admitting it wasn’t enough for trolls
Kate O’Halloran reflections on her experience of being trolled online after a mistake made on Twitter.
The Cost of Next-Day Delivery: How Amazon Escapes The Blame For Its Deadly Last Mile
Caroline O’Donovan and Ken Bensinger provide a picture of what is involved in having things delivered the next day.
Malcolm Gladwell Reaches His Tipping Point
In a review of Malcolm Gladwell’s new book Talking to Strangers, Andrew Ferguson unpacks Gladwell’s pivot from rules and biases to unanswered questions.
Focus on … MIT and Jeffrey Epstein
Image via “BrickForge Animals” by Dunechaser https://flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/1431005928 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
Justin Peters maps the history associated with MIT, the birth of the Media Lab and the choice to soil its specialness, rather than support activists like Aaron Swartz. Evgeny Morozov labels it as moral bankruptcy. Audrey Watters calls it a plutocratic horror show. James Bridle questions the ethics of the Media Lab and their history in building products to improve people’s lives, only to then pivot into market gains. Ronan Farrow reports on the steps Joi Ito and others took to conceal Epstein’s involvement with the Media Lab. Siva Vaidhyanathan argues that Epstein’s intent in donating was not whitewashing, but rather to gain access to powerful men. Anand Giridharadas outlines why he resigned as a juror for MIT’s Disobedience Award. Heather Gold reflects on the problem of gender and power. danah boyd discusses the great reckoning ahead, where we are faced with the challenge of building rather than breaking the web.
Read Write Respond #045
So that was September for me, how about you? As always, happy to hear.
Cover Image via JustLego101
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