Chapters 1 through 8 of Martin Weller\u2019s book, 25 Years of Ed Tech, have inspired much critical thought and reflection around the emergence of digital technology in education. Given I have never had (or taken) the opportunity to explore the recent history of digital technology, I did find the basic facts from Chapter 2 intriguing. First, the creation of the web and the four technologies that still underpin it today, HTML, URL, HTTP, and web browser, can be credited back to one person, Tim Berners-Lee. In addition, the web and the internet are two different technologies initially designed as an open, decentralized communication system (Weller, 2020). The original intent and spirit behind the technology seem to be at odds with what it has largely become. Our capitalist system drives the seemingly endless race to monetize everything, including knowledge and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The book\u2019s format has also allowed me to walk down memory lane and consider my age and stage of life at the time certain advances in digital technologies were emerging. Both my high school and post-secondary education were completed before any major tech adoptions in education. This inspires me to consider how our circumstances and experiences influence what we are exposed to along with the opportunities we have to learn, which in turn shapes how we view and interact with the world around us. In addition, change may seem slow for those who have had the opportunity to use the technologies in school or have been working in the sector. Having returned to a formal program after decades away, rest assured, major shifts made possible by technology have occurred since I was last a student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a final thought, gaining insight into some points of contention within ed tech has been interesting. Some of these are highlighted in the book, while others are introduced in the Between the Chapters Podcast. A few that have stuck out for me are the LMS, scaffolding and the apparent historical amnesia in ed tech (Pasquini, 2020). Concerning the latter, we have seen this said in many other disciplines as well, for example politics or economics. I don\u2019t think this phenomenon is unique to ed tech. I\u2019m looking forward to ongoing learning and critical reflection as we continue through our course readings and related discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n