Can contemporary technologies finally break the colonial context of education? (background slides)

1. Who manipulates your
students’ worlds?
Ira David Socol
Michigan State University
Albemarle County Public Schools

2. Heidegger
“One, Technology is a means to an end; it is an
“instrument” to meet our needs. Second,
Technology is a human activity. These two
statements about technology are interconnected
“for to posit ends and procure and utilize the
means to them is a human activity.”’
- Mike’s Class

3. Technology
the art of manipulating
the world

4. Technology as Truth
Technology determines our frame
of reference.
Our enframing of the world.

5. Technology
 All that we create to
manipulate our world
 Structures, Furniture, Lighting
 Time Schedules
 Information and
Communication Systems

6. Technology as Colonial
Coercive Technologies.

7. TPACK
Technological Knowledge
is inherent component
of Content Knowledge
construction.

8. Enframing

9. Enframing

10. Enframing

11. Enframing

12. Enframing

13. Enframing

14. Enframing
“Cross said she and her husband, Glenn
Cross, and the couple's three school-age
children went to bed early Tuesday and
Wednesday nights. Before turning in, the
youngsters played board games and
finished their homework by firelight. "Just
like Abe Lincoln," Glenn Cross said.”
- Chicago Tribune 1996

15. Enframing

16. Enframing

17. Liberation Technologies

18. Postcolonial Theories
Colonizing:
Reproducing a lesser version of yourself
(your power structure) within others

19. Liberation
Allowing humans to develop within
their unique capabilities.

20. “Toolbelt Theory”
Once students get to pick their own
tools, and choose their own
representations they are liberated
humans. And then we can
collaborate, rather than oppress.

21. “Toolbelt Theory”
Task-based, student-centered,
technology choice paradigm
No diagnosis/prescription

22. How vs. What

23. What vs. How

24. Must your students…
 Read your way?
 Write your way?
 Count your way?
 Sit your way?
 Work in your time schedule?

25. What makes your way,
the right way?

26. Are you so sure…
…that your way will be right
for your students?

27. Ira David Socol
irasocol@gmail.com
irasocol.com