Wow! As the saying goes, learning is a lifelong journey. My experience in this course (Foundations of Educational Technology: History, Theory, and Practice) has been truly enlightening. Despite using technology in my teaching practice and instructing others on its implementation in science education, I hadn’t delved into the philosophical underpinnings and the complexities of commercialization and commodification in the realm of digital technologies. To ensure a safe journey, the pilot (Prof Katia) instructed the class to conduct a security check. This involved examining my understanding of educational technology, which I viewed as the ethical application of technological resources and processes to improve teaching, learning, and performance. Then certain guidelines and roadmaps tagged theories of knowledge and learning were explored. These roadmaps actually laid a foundation for how to plan and establish strategies that align with my student’s needs when teaching or trying to use technology in the classroom.

Roadmap for navigating the use of technology

Then the journey began as we navigated various milestones (technology tools) used to impact learning in the classroom. Those weeks of exploration were a playground of ideas and reflection for me. I learnt a lot from all the great presentations, and they really enhanced my understanding of how technology can be effectively implemented in classrooms. However, some concepts, such as assistive technologies, particularly resonated with me as they challenged my preconceived notions. I had always associated assistive technologies with individuals with disabilities, but the presentation changed my assumption. Moreover, drawing on the discussion on assistive technologies, I realized that I have used screen readers and adaptive quizzes in my personal practice. Talking about the AI in education presentation, I think that was also amazing.

A Man in a Wheelchair Using a Virtual Reality Headset

The presenters shared some useful platforms that I have begun exploring, and that’s another great hit in my learning experience. I also gained insights into strategic ways to engage K-12 students with generative AI. While I think the coding and makerspace presentation was intriguing, unfortunately the presenters were unable to fully engage the class in further discussions due to time constraints. Reflecting on my learning journal, where I explored various learning philosophies such as constructivism, pragmatism, and connectivism, I considered how these philosophies could be enhanced with digital tools like Padlet, social media platforms, Zoom, Arduino, ChatGPT, and Kahoot. A key question I ask myself is, “Which philosophy best aligns with my teaching practices and technology use in the classroom?”

Below is my summary of learning.

I am grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside such wonderful colleagues. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge, time, insights, and personal experiences. I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Katia for teaching this course and providing us with a platform to share our ideas. Here’s to a successful 2025!