Broadly speaking, for my Applied Research Project I am interested in approaching educational technology with a critical lens and investigating the social, cultural, and political impacts of ed tech. I am especially interested in examining the role of critical pedagogy and critical digital pedagogy in public education systems. Although the specific focus of my ARP needs refinement and fine-tuning, it would be fascinating to look at Alberta’s teacher preparation programs and identify a process or set of criteria to assess whether “Alberta’s teachers have the skills and knowledge to integrate a critical digital pedagogy into their teaching practice and best prepare students to be active and informed participants in a democracy of the future” (Donahue, 2022, para. 2).
There are several avenues I could go down in terms of disseminating my research. First, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) publishes The ATA Magazine three times a year and readers are welcome to submit articles to the magazine (ATA, n.d.). Although this is not a scholarly journal, the ATA Magazine is widely circulated and available to members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. By contributing an article to the ATA magazine, my research may reach a wide and relevant audience. As well, every year the ATA holds teachers’ conventions throughout the province. I could potentially disseminate my research by writing a proposal to present at Calgary City Teachers’ Convention (CCTCA, n.d.) and by doing so, share my work with a wide audience at a convenient time and space for busy educators.
Additionally, there are two organizations I have come across in my MALAT studies that I would love to be able to contribute to. The first, Civics of Technology (CoT) “aims to empower students and educators to critically inquire into the effects of technologies on their individual and collective lives” (CoT, n.d.). As I near the finish line of the MALAT program and my ARP, I would like to get in contact with CoT about sharing my work and possibly conducting further research. I would also look to contribute my research to another amazing organization, The Human Restoration project, which aims to grow “a movement toward a progressive, human-centered education system” (Human Restoration Project, n.d.). Ideally, my goal is to share my work openly and perhaps inspire other educators to take up the challenge of working towards a better world by questioning the status quo and moving towards necessary change.
References
Alberta Teachers’ Association. About the ATA magazine. The Alberta Teachers’ Association. https://legacy.teachers.ab.ca/News%20Room/ata%20magazine/Pages/About%20The%20ATA%20Magazine.aspx
Calgary City Teachers’ Convention. (n.d.). For speakers. Calgary City Teachers’ Convention. https://www.cctca.com/for-speakers
Civics of Technology. (n.d.). About Us. Civics of Technology. https://www.civicsoftechnology.org/aboutus
Donahue, A. (2022). The necessity of critical digital pedagogy. LRNT622 2022 – Unit 1 | Activity 1: Your Research Topic. https://rru.padlet.org/ctet_admin/12ysc5xwxr6kg3yv
Human Restoration Project. (n.d.). About. Human Restoration Project. https://www.humanrestorationproject.org/about