Technology Is Important — But It’s Not a Curriculum
Technology is important in the classroom — it’s an unavoidable part of everyday work, even for tradespeople. But it’s a tool, not a curriculum.
Forcing every student to use the same device is like forcing everybody to use a hammer when some have screws and others have nails. We need alternate approaches when the programming doesn’t fit the child.
The Right Approach
- Technology should serve learning, not drive it
- Different tools for different learners — some students thrive with tablets, others need paper and pencil, and both are okay
- Screen time isn’t inherently good or bad — it depends on what’s happening on the screen
- Privacy matters — student data should be protected, and technology vendors should be scrutinized
What I’ll Advocate For
- Technology decisions driven by educational outcomes, not vendor relationships or trend-chasing
- Opt-out flexibility for families who prefer less screen-based learning
- Transparency about what apps and platforms are used in classrooms and what data they collect
- Teacher training that focuses on when to use technology, not just how
- Regular evaluation of whether our technology investments are actually improving learning outcomes
A Balanced Vision
Our kids will live in a world saturated with technology. They need to be fluent in it — but fluency means knowing when to use a tool and when to put it down. Our schools should model that balance.