Welcome to EPOL 480: Technology and Educational Reform. This course provides critical perspectives on how artificial intelligence and educational technology intersect with questions of equity, access, and social justice.
Course Overview
Educational technology is often presented as a neutral tool for improving learning outcomes. This course challenges that assumption by examining:
- The historical relationship between technology and educational reform
- How platforms and algorithms shape educational experiences
- The privatization and datafication of learning
- Ethical frameworks for evaluating EdTech
Weekly Structure
- Week 1-2: Foundations and Fundamental Values
- Week 3: Critical Perspectives on EdTech
- Week 4: The Platformization of Education
- Week 5: Datafication and Learning Analytics
- Week 6: Algorithmic Governance and Policy
- Week 7: Course Project Development
Assessment
- Weekly participation and activities (20%)
- Project Part 1: Topic Analysis (35%)
- Project Part 2: Final Paper with Analysis (45%)
Reading list
- Educational Technology is Not Neutral (2024)
- Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom