The Digital Tug-of-War

I’ve often wondered about that moment we walk into a classroom- is it better to have every student with an iPad, or no screens at all? In this episode, I’m digging into that tension by looking at the Scottish Borders Council’s Inspire Learning project. As an educator who has worked with diverse learner needs, I see the massive potential for these tools to be a "lifeline" for inclusion, but I also have some real concerns about becoming too dependent on big tech brands. I’m using this space to figure out how we can use technology while staying in the driver's seat.A few things I’m talking through in this episode:The balance between inclusion and independence: Looking at how the Scottish Borders initiative aims for equity while trying to avoid what Knox (2022) calls "corporate fiefdoms."Staying the "architect" of the lesson: Thinking about my own professional practice and how to follow Stock’s (2003) model so the technology supports the learning instead of just dictating it.The ethics of watching and logging: Addressing the reality of "datafication" and how to make sure we don't start treating students like standardized data points, an issue raised by Polsky (2022).Moving beyond basic skills: Why digital literacy should really be about giving students the power to find their own voices and tell their own stories, inspired by Hobbs' (2017) work.References :Hobbs, R. (2017) ‘Chapter 8: Digital Audio and Podcasting’, in Hobbs, R. (ed.) Create to Learn: Introduction to Digital Literacy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Image Credit: Observer Research Foundation (2024). Digital Tug-of-War. Available at: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/digital-tug-of-war-the-battle-for-monetary-controlKnox, D. (2022, Nov 7) Apple targets Scottish Borders for teaching revolution. BBC News.Polsky, S. (2022) ‘INTRODUCTION: The Posthuman at Empire’s Expiration’, in The Dark Posthuman: Dehumanization, Technology, and the Atlantic World. Brooklyn: Punctum Books.Scottish Borders Council (2019, Feb 18) Inspire Learning Borders - teachers' views. [Online video].Scottish Borders Council (2023) Inspire Learning FAQs.Stock, G. (2003) To upgrade is human. [Online video].