In Zhao’s February blog about his new book he states “we need an education that helps everyone to become uniquely creative and entrepreneurial. Education needs to stop preparing students to become a homogenous group of average individuals—mediocre at everything but great at nothing—and to begin helping everyone to become great.” This statement leads into his passion for personalized learning. My prediction is that Zhao views the role of technology in education as a means for creativity and personalized learning controlled by the student and not standardized education.

I am trying to interpret his meaning as that ed tech tools are for teachers and teaching rather than learning?
I am not sure that I agree with the comment that technology results in thinking of education as a factory. I do not think technology produces the same people and same product. I think when used appropriately technology can foster creativity and foster critical thinking skills. Ed technology needs to be used in away that enhances learning snd used by students (as well as teachers)

I understand that because of technology many jobs will no longer exist because of automation. However, I am not against the idea of having content such as CSS in order to be able to develop 21st century skills in our students. Yes technology has becomes commodity and students can access it any time however in order to develop critical thinking there must be some content to be able to play with. Then through this process students will understand how to create their own knowledge and understanding and adapt to this changing, dynamic world. Students will not understand how to innovators if they have never been exposed to a process of innovation.

Since technologies are rarely created with educators in mind, they often by nature encourage our innovative side to figure out how to use the new technology successfully in the classroom. The simple creation of new tech is a motivator for innovation in the educational world. In a way, online classes are sort of an automation of a classroom. It takes a lot of work in the beginning to set up all the pieces and parts of the class, but once it has started the teacher just needs to add in occasional adjustments and then feedback to the students. The other processes are often fairly autonomous within the class function compared to F2F classes. Some upper level classes are more complex, like doctoral programs, but even at the master’s level this is a common practice for online courses.

I think in service training should give teachers opportunities to be creative however until we get rid of standardized testing this will be a huge challenge. The biggest inhibitors to teachers’ creativity is standardized testing and now in some places teachers’’ pays are adjusted according to the results of these standardized tests. The assessment model needs to change and be a lot more creative to have any impact in pedagogy. I liken standardized testing to trying to sum up the wether with one number. Maybe in the morning it was beautiful and sunny but in the afternoon there is a shower that cools down the temperature. How would you summarize/ judge a child with one number??

I don’t think this is about creativity. It sounds more to me about a mesh between the teachers pedagogical beliefs and the tech’s pedagogical usefulness. If the tech is particularly useful in a pedagogical area that the teacher is less confident or finds less useful, then they will not be likely to incorporate the tech. I don’t think this requires the teachers to be creative. I also don’t think every teacher needs to be creative. A great musician doesn’t have to be able to compose music. So great teachers dont have to be able to create curriculum. If they arent creative, then they just need to be open and willing to try new ideas and activities that are created by others.

Until there is some type of reward or encouragement for teachers to explore their creativity, it is not going to take place at the speed Zhao wishes. The tech tools exist that can assist with creativity but first there needs to be an interest, which, unfortunately isn’t there when there is so much to do to prepare for standardized tests. I went last evening to my son’s high school meeting about taking the SAT and other tests he will take his junior year. All the teachers spoke about was how our children should be using Khan Academy and other online tools to prepare for these tests. My son left there and asked if I would bring a laptop with us on spring break so he can study for the SAT (which is the first day back to school from spring break). Where is the creativity in that?

Zhao argues that every child’s talent is valuable. As he mentions, technology’s role for education is a tool for students to create and to share expertise on a global and diverse scale. To help change teacher’s perceptions I would find a way to demonstrate Zhao’s points then ask the teachers to practice them with the students. Unfortunately, as Zhao commented, our country only teaches to the standard and what is mandated by the educational governing body.