Technology is reshaping the landscape of education

As the learning landscape continues to shift, so must our teaching. How we adapt our pedagogy in 2022 will shape not just what students learn, but how deeply they understand and apply it. Given the lessons from recent years, especially during periods of remote learning. This is a chance to reframe what quality learning looks like.

The question for each of us is: what will you do differently this year?

Moving Beyond the Traditional Model

The idea that learning only happens in classrooms, between bells and behind walls, no longer holds. Students learn in libraries, lounges, cafes, parks, and online. These informal settings are social, collaborative, and active. Often more so than the average classroom.

Today’s learners are accustomed to flexibility. Outside class, they form groups, solve problems, and learn from one another without direction. Our classrooms must reflect this reality. Instead of returning to familiar routines, we need to reimagine the student experience to allow for movement, voice, choice, and purpose.

Pedagogy in a Post-Pandemic World

Periods of remote learning pushed us to adopt new strategies. Some worked well. Some didn’t. But every challenge offered insight. This is the time to integrate what we’ve learned, not by layering new tools onto old systems, but by rethinking our approach altogether.

Seymour Papert said it best in 1993:

“Nothing is more absurd than an experiment to place computers in classrooms where nothing else has changed.”

His words ring even louder today. Technology is not a shortcut to engagement. It’s not enough to fill classrooms with devices and apps. Instead, we must focus on pedagogy. How will we design learning experiences that tap into student interests, promote inquiry, and challenge thinking?

Your Next Step

What changes will you make this year?
Will you rethink your learning spaces?
Will you expand opportunities for differentiation and collaboration?
Will you explore new ways to give students greater responsibility for their learning?

Resources have improved. Technology is embedded. The question is not what you have access to but what you will do with it.

As you reflect on your teaching practice, consider this final prompt:

Given what you’ve learned through the pandemic, what pedagogy will you bring to the 2022 classroom?

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Dr Jake Madden

I’m Jake Madden (Dip Teach; B.Ed; Grad Dip: Leadership; M. Ed: Leadership; EdD; FACEL; MACE), and I’ve had the privilege of working in education for over thirty years as a teacher and principal. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on supporting teachers to build their capacity, developing learning approaches that respond to the needs of today’s world, creating flexible learning spaces for 21st-century learners, and designing curriculum that encourages global mindedness. I’m particularly passionate about the concept of teacher-as-researcher, and I’ve been fortunate to contribute to this area by sharing my experiences through books and journal articles. My work reflects what I’ve learned from leading and navigating educational change, and I’m always eager to continue learning from others in the field.

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Author: Dr Jake Madden

I’m Jake Madden (Dip Teach; B.Ed; Grad Dip: Leadership; M. Ed: Leadership; EdD; FACEL; MACE), and I’ve had the privilege of working in education for over thirty years as a teacher and principal. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on supporting teachers to build their capacity, developing learning approaches that respond to the needs of today’s world, creating flexible learning spaces for 21st-century learners, and designing curriculum that encourages global mindedness. I’m particularly passionate about the concept of teacher-as-researcher, and I’ve been fortunate to contribute to this area by sharing my experiences through books and journal articles. My work reflects what I’ve learned from leading and navigating educational change, and I’m always eager to continue learning from others in the field. View all posts by Dr Jake Madden