 always have insight into this. A book is much easier to check. Although your own device offers many possibilities, it is good to have a discussion about this, both with colleagues and with the students.
- Individualization. Another danger is more individualization. New technology offers a lot of space for students to work individually, but this can also happen. How desirable is it that everyone works individually on assignments? This can play a role in particular when using adaptive learning programs: collaboration has only a small role here. A consideration when working in a 1-to-1 laptop / ipad class therefore remains: in what way do I ensure that students work together as a teacher?
- Privacy & ownership. Working with new technology also provides a different approach to privacy and ownership of students’ work. Who owns the files? Where do the students store the material and who has access to it? What happens if something goes wrong? Paper can also get lost, but if there is a leak where students disappear files or are visible to everyone, you can have a big problem.
- Big data. About the use of data. This is also a danger. Thanks to all modern technology, you often generate much more data about the students, which you can then use. The only question is, what kind of data are you looking for, and what can you do with this data. Measuring is knowing, but you have to know exactly what you are measuring. Do you give students another chance to improve or change? Or do you, as a teacher, become subordinate to what an algorithm says about the student? New technology is often a black box, in which it is not clear exactly why a certain outcome is found.
- Replacing teachers. The danger that sounds most exaggerated is the replacement of teachers. Imagine that all students work with their own device, and can go through the material at their own pace using an adaptive program. What is your role as a teacher? Probably a computer system can do this more practical, cheaper and faster than a teacher. But is that what education should be? Go through a series of steps as quickly as possible to get a diploma? This may sound like a doom scenario, but in times of declining teacher numbers, it is not surprising if this soon becomes a reality.
But what can I do?
The above points may sound exaggerated. And of course, there is also a counter-argument for every point. Is it better to just work with pen and paper? The bottom line: without a clear vision or idea of how you want to use new technology, it is not possible to provide better education. Because the possibilities are increasing, it is good to also remain aware of the dangers and pitfalls. New technology offers many possibilities, but do not stare blindly. It can improve your teaching, but the most important person remains you, the teacher!