This week’s material on the topic of digital technology surveillance is an interesting topic that is worth reflecting on. While many of the widely used educational technologies in the market may seem to bring numerous benefits to learners and educators, the underlying operational logic and purposes may reveal something less appealing. As highlighted in the short film #tresdancing, what seems to be state-of-the-art AR glasses are utilizing more information than necessary to generate math questions. Although the idea of doing community work as an alternative to pass a math course seems dramatic, the message it spreads is more significant and realistic. Everyday technologies (although AR glasses may not be as prevalent yet) have the potential to process more information than we think and analyze that information to perform something that may be completely out of their intended purposes. This may include hardware such as phones, tablets, or smarter home appliances, and software such as social media or shopping applications. Therefore, as educators when choosing the right technology to assess or engage students in learning, there needs to be more consideration in terms of tool selection and examining the underlying ethical concerns.
March 5, 2022