Critical Theory in EdTech

What is critical theory and what role does it play in educational technology?

Introduction

In a world where education can be interpreted in a variety of ways across societies, critical theory is an important topic to understand. Challenging the traditional views of learning and contradicting the shift from a teacher-centered to a learner-centered environment is a crucial move in the era of developing educational technology, particularly in a post-Covid world. While we were stunned and halted in many ways during the pandemic, we were inversely catapulted into a new era of technology use that has indefinitely impacted the way learning takes place.

What is Critical Theory?

In thinking about and understanding critical theory, it’s important to understand that the basis of critical theory is to “challenge the notion of pure reason, showing its changeability depending on the culture, the history, and the power in which it is embedded” (Nichols & Allen-Brown, 2004). In the scope of education, critical theory is the action to shed light on issues normally not recognized and challenge them in a way that brings justice for those that are oppressed. If the origin of critical theory was the idea to “respond to historical events of the day”, then this is a crucially pertinent issue that needs to be understood in today’s classrooms (Nichols & Allen-Brown, 2004).

The interweaving of critical theory and education means we begin to examine and question how our current educational system can improve and offer the most optimal educational opportunities to all students of varying socio-economic statues, race, gender, and ages. In a post-pandemic world, technology must be included in this perspective. In order to maintain learner-centered environments, educational technology must be a core skill incorporated into the pedagogy of learning. It can no longer be considered an accessorized add-on, but instead an essential component of the everyday classroom environment.

Creating Relevant Learning

It is no secret that many schools are still functioning in the traditional learning format. The students of today are not the students of yesterday and are not prepared for tomorrow’s world. The common use of educational technology in classrooms can play a role in establishing critical thinking, problem solving, and improving engagement (Li & Lalani, 2020). In order to best prepare our students for this new post-Covid world, educators must be willing to completely revitalize their idea of learning and understand that technology in the classroom has the potential to accelerate teaching and learning and benefit both teachers and students.

Digital Literacy

In thinking about creating relevant learning opportunities among students, we must begin prioritizing digital literacy skills from the very beginning. Students as young as elementary school can begin learning skills that help lay important foundations for becoming digital citizens. In a document issued by the Southern Regional Education Board (2018), the top ten barriers in educational technology were presented. Student digital literacy ranked among one of the most important issues teachers and students are facing today. “Digital literacy belongs beside reading, writing and math as a fundamental skill in the modern world” (SREB, 2018). Teaching and expecting students to be knowledgeable about digital skills is a future-ready ability that prepares them for tomorrow’s world. “Digitally literate citizens have the knowledge and skills to access, evaluate, manipulate, utilize, design and develop information – and ultimately to learn from the digital environment” (SREB, 2018). By instilling these skills, students are incoherently becoming lifelong learners by constantly building on digital skills as technology continues to progress.

Emerging Technologies

The constant development of new technologies will always pose a problem for the proper usage of technology in all areas, but particularly education. Most schools just simply can’t afford to keep buying the latest and greatest versions of technology applications. While it is important to understand the growth and benefits of emerging technologies, its impossible to have access to it all. This rapid growth is another huge problem in proactively initiating educational technology. The ability to access the best technology is a hurdle many schools struggle with. Factors that inhibit that access can include cost, effectiveness, training, privacy, accessibility, outcome alignments, and bandwidth (SREB, 2018). It is important for administrators and educators to stay informed on the up-and-coming technologies, while still utilizing what the technology they do have access to in its most impactful ability.

Where do we go from here?

There is still much to develop about critical theory within education. However, since we teach in a world immersed diverse learners and assorted educational scenarios, it is important to stay up-to-date on the most relevant and new theories being presented on this topic. Our world is constantly changing in many ways, in order to be a contributing citizen, we must be willing to evolve and grow with the change-personally and professionally.

Additional Resources:

https://www.thoughtco.com/critical-theory-3026623

https://study.com/academy/lesson/critical-theory-overview-practical-teaching-examples.html

References

Li, C., & Lalani, F. (2020, April 29). The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed Education Forever. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online-digital-learning/

Nichols, R., & Allen-Brown, V. (2004). 9. Critical Theory and Educational Technology [Review of 9. Critical Theory and Educational Technology]. 1–29.

SREB. (2018). 10 Issues in Educational Technology (pp. 2–11) [Review of 10 Issues in Educational Technology]. Southern Regional Education Board.