Critical studies of education and technology ... reasons to be hopeful?

There is growing interest in critical studies of education and technology (CSET). This report summarises the view of hundreds of academics, researchers, teachers and others interested in critical ed-tech scholarship on the purposes and intended outcomes of their work. Ultimately, critical scholarship needs to make a difference … so, what might this difference look like? How can critical studies of education and technology make the world a (slightly) better place? Eight main points of discussion are identified:

• Framing the critical studies of education and technology as a political project
• Paying more attention to existing forms of ed-tech that we want to see more of
• Supporting the new forms of ed-tech that we want to see
• Building networks and making alliances with like-minded others
• Encouraging ed-tech resistance
• Changing the nature of the ed-tech conversation
• Acknowledging – and making the most of – the privileged position of working in the university sector
• Having an open conversation about what it means to be hopeful