Blog Reflection: Rethinking Technology and Learning

 Blog Reflection: Rethinking Technology and Learning

Have you ever noticed how schools love to show off new technology—smartboards, tablets, learning apps—but nothing really changes about how students learn? That thought was on my mind while reading Beyond Technology Integration: The Case for Technology Transformation and Of Luddites, Learning, and Life.

The first essay argues that just adding tech doesn’t transform learning. If the teaching style stays the same, then laptops or apps are simply fancy chalkboards. Real change happens when we rethink what learning should look like and use technology to promote creativity, independence, and deeper engagement.

The second essay brings a cautionary voice. Revisiting the Luddites’ resistance to machines, it shows that technology often comes with trade-offs. Their resistance wasn’t about rejecting progress—it was about protecting values and communities. That perspective reminded me that questioning new tools can be just as important as adopting them.

Together, these essays made me see technology in education more critically. It’s not about chasing every gadget or rejecting them altogether. It’s about asking: Does this tool make learning more meaningful and human? If the answer is yes, then it’s worth embracing.