Embracing Educational Technology: Navigating Innovation with TPACK Framework

As a young aspiring educator, I believe that technology is a valuable tool in the classroom, but it’s essential to remember that it’s just that — a tool. New technologies are continuously being developed to enhance our lives and learning experiences. However, this does not mean that we should force the newest technologies into our daily lives, nor should we force them into the learning happening in the classrooms. While new technology can spark curiosity, excitement, and wonder, it can also be a source of distraction, diverting our focus from its primary purpose: enhancing our existing methods of living and learning, not replacing them.

In this new age of technology, I think it is easy for us educators to become enamored with the idea of using the newest technology to teach our classes because it’s new. In doing so, we may overlook whether the technology supports the intended outcomes of a lesson or potentially disrupts it. I believe it is more important to use technology that will directly support the intended goals and objectives of the lesson.

However, these matter only if we as educators are aware of and use the TPACK model. TPACK, which stands for Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge, is a valuable framework for educators to successfully incorporate educational technology into their teaching methods. It combines what teachers know (the content knowledge aspect), how they teach (the pedagogical knowledge aspect), and how technology is used (the technological knowledge aspect). The following video attached will help further explain TPACK and how it is used:

In conclusion, I believe that the use of educational technology in the classroom is a wonderful tool, and the ongoing creation of new educational technology is remarkable. However, I firmly emphasize that educational technology should not be introduced into the classroom without adhering to the TPACK framework.