Are Technology used for technology sake or to make a difference in learning?

Many years ago, as a trainee teacher, I recalled one of my lecturers showed me an interesting pop up picture book and asked me if the effect could be achieved with a digital book. Obviously, the answer was no because a digital book would not provide me with the sensory engagement that the hardcopy book could do. 

This has influenced and led in the development of my personal guiding principle as a teacher in the use of technology in my classroom: Technology should be used as a way to make an impact in education and provide my charges with opportunities that were previously unattainable without modern technology.

When I started teaching, I often reflect upon the technology I used in my art classes …if it is used to make a difference to my students, or just because it makes it all look prettier and engages them, in the same way that fun gadgets like Gameboy would, or am I just trying to be accountable to the KPIs that the ministry has established for the use of ICT in schools.

(Just to give you some context, in Singapore, we have master plans for ICT in education that aims to enrich and transform the learning environment of our students and equip them with critical competencies and dispositions to succeed in a knowledge economy.)

For more info, visit the website at http://ictconnection.moe.edu.sg/our-ict-masterplan-journey 

This generation of students is born into a digital world and technology is part of their lives. Therefore, teachers need to ensure that the technology that is used enhances their learning instead of just coinciding with it.

In my last posting as a curriculum planner , I had the opportunities to visit many schools but it saddens me that while ICT infrastructures are in place, the pedagogy behind the technology and the vision and understanding is not. Not sure if this is a pervasive issues in schools around the world but how then do we enable teachers to thrive in the technological world and harness technology effectively in education?