The Politics of Educational Technology

Interests is the connections or commitments to particular causes and outcomes, and the influence necessary to pursue and shape these causes and outcomes.

(from the introduction page)

Every crisis is also a moment of reconstruction

(p. 432, Paulo Freire and Ivan Illich)

 Something to consider while watching the videos

1. How important is education?
2. Do you believe that everyone should have access to education?
3. Do you believe that making education accessible to all children is the sole responsibility of the government?
4. How committed are we in providing education both inside and outside of classroom?
5. Are educators given precedence when it comes to government decisions on corporate interests as they relate to decisions that will affect technology in the classroom?
6. Although Friere and Illich were skeptical about the oppression that new technologies could place on the poor, do you feel that they are being utilized to their full learning potential today?
7. Technology has taken on the leading role of reconstruction of education, do you feel that this is a fair assumption? What role do politics play in this assumption?

 

	EFREN PENAFLORIDA – PUSHCART EDUCATOR NAMED CNN HERO OF THE YEAR 2009
	UN: 67 million children deprived of education
	Koenig Solutions – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project – Microsoft Award Winner
	Intel Education Service Corps

 

Discussion question #1:  (to be answered in discussion forum)

1. Although education can provide the competencies and skills to improve people’s lives, how can it be a priority in the third world countries where basic necessities such as clean drinking water and waste disposal takes priority. Or does education provide the platform through which these countries can emerge and participate in the global market?

 

References:

1. Kahn, R. & Kellener, D. (2007). Paulo Freire and Ivan Illich: Technology, politics and the reconstruction of education. Policy Futures in Education, 5(4).