The Growth of Enterprise Pedagogy: How ICT Policy is Infected by Neo-liberalism
Dr Mark Brown
Technology integration in the classroom is an enormous social experiment. ICT integration into schools is currently happening and we as teachers are just expected to accept it. The article the growth of enterprise pedagogy: how ICT policy in infected by neo-liberalism by Mark Brown explores the other side of ICT integration. The article is focused around the idea ‘are we all living in a computer delusion?’. Today we are living in a digital world whether we like it or not and technology will only keep advancing. However does that mean to say that our children should be educated by it?
Everyone knows ICT can be problematic at times and many have argued against it. The article recognises that ICT is not an easy thing to implement in the classroom with limited resources. ICT may even be negatively affecting our teacher’s lives. Many teachers did not initially have a say about the inclusion of technology and they more or less are treated like ‘policy consumers’ and not ‘policy producers’. In some ways it may be viewed that our role is to teach and not to argue. Hence, should all of our efforts go towards something that may have no actual benefits?
We as educators just assume technology is good. But don’t you ever wonder about the negatives? I believe as a society we just accepted technology integration because at the time it was seen as the right thing to do. But Brown argues that there is a negative side to ICT that most of us are unaware of. We have not been provided with the whole picture; the good, the bad, the positives and negatives. Teachers therefore need think critically about this shift. Certain awareness needs be raised as we as teachers need to be able to make our own judgements for our own classrooms. Technology integration in schools is relatively new and in so there is a lack of substantial research about the positives of ICT. In the article some research suggests that ‘computer use may be detrimental to our brains, bodies and spirits’. The article also argues that technology can change our students. However, if this is true technology is already in society and we have no control over it.
Most of us, including myself, believe that technology is a great teaching tool and holds a high educational value; however have you ever stopped to think what if it isn’t. Our job as teachers is to primarily educate our students. However, the topic under debate is whether or not technology is an effective tool to educate students. I believe technology should be used to enhance learning. If this does not happen then the potential of ICT could be lost resulting in teaching steering away from its intended goals. Educational goals described by the article include equity, fairness and social justice. In the new digital age I strongly believe students need to be equip with ICT. However, it is not the ICT that improves learning but the teachers who uses it. ICT cannot on its own significantly improve learning. Effective ICT results from teachers having a clear purpose and meaning for the use ICT as well as, partaking in a reflective process at the end of every lesson. In the article I disagree with the statement ‘computers send the wrong message by making learning appear colourful and fun’. I believe learning should be fun and enjoyed. Yet, it wouldn’t be learning if it wasn’t hard work. In order for students to survive in society they need to use technology.
After all, are we really going to transform entire schools without all the facts?
Reference:
Brown, M. (2005). The growth of enterprise pedagogy: How ICT policy is infected by neo-liberalism. Australian Educational Computing, 20(2), 16-22.
Extra Information:
No comments:
Post a Comment