An Honest Look Towards a Better Philosophy of edTech

Much has been made of how technology is changing the way students learn. But how do we separate the signal from the noise? Building on an understanding of the behavioral and cognitive-constructivist educational theories made famous over the last century, as a group, we will work through a philosophical approach in dissecting how technology affects learning and promotes effective teaching. Through hands-on, practical activities such as simulating the challenges of multitasking in the student learning environment, and testing our own cognitive capacities in the seemingly mundane task of touch typing, we will unpack what is known about educational best practices and apply it to our use of technology in the classroom. This will culminate in a redefinition of the classroom itself and increased clarity about what works, what doesn’t, and why. From boosting engagement, to peeling back the implications of student learning in an online world, this workshop will be a participant driven critical analysis of the IT infused learning environment of today.

Audience: This session is designed for teachers and leaders in the Middle and High School. 

About David Collett

David Collett is the High & Middle School IT Coordinator at the International School Manila. Fascinated by education and technology, David is interested in finding new and innovative ways of enhancing learning effectively and generally pushing all the buttons he can find … if he can get away with it. After-hours, he is a co-founder of the Innovative Professional Development learning community and the IT Coordinator of the sustainability in education organization Compass Education. David holds an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership with a focus in Instructional Technology and Distance Education and wrote his dissertation on the Social Identity of Third Culture Kids Online.