Think back to being a student in your elementary school. How did it look? How did it feel? Imagine your old classroom; what was on the walls? What did you believe as a learner? Practically everyone can recall their schooling experiences, sometimes in extreme detail. Some are positive memories and some are negative. Some were out-workings of beliefs of education held by the adults that ran your class, your school, your community.

These implicit experiences actually have a massive influence on how we as adults perceive and internally hold beliefs about education.

Have you ever wondered why some educators and EdTech developers choose certain tools and methods over others? How do they decide what is the best way to teach and learn with technology? The answer may lie in their philosophies of education, both implicitly gained through their own upbringing or those explicitly adopted. This reflection can help us understand our own beliefs, values, and assumptions about education and how they affect our choices and actions. In this blog post, we will explore some of the major philosophies of education and how they influence the design and implementation of EdTech solutions.

We will look at essentialism, progressivism, constructivism, and critical pedagogy as four different perspectives on education and EdTech. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of how philosophies of education can help you create and use EdTech solutions that match your educational goals and needs.

Essentialism is a teacher-centred philosophy that emphasizes teaching basic skills and academic knowledge through a core curriculum of traditional subjects. Essentialists believe that students should learn the essentials of academic disciplines, such as reading, writing, math, science, history, and foreign languages. They also value hard work, mental discipline, and moral standards in education. Essentialists aim to train the mind, promote reasoning, and ensure a common culture for all students.

Essentialism shows up in edtech solutions when companies design products that support the core curriculum and the teacher's role as the leader of the classroom. For example, an edtech solution that provides digital textbooks, assignments, homework, tests, and feedback for students in different subjects could be aligned with essentialism. Another example could be an edtech solution that helps teachers organize their lessons, monitor student progress, and maintain order and discipline in the classroom. Edtech solutions that follow essentialism often focus on transmitting factual knowledge and skills rather than exploring diverse perspectives or fostering creativity.

Progressivism is a student-centred philosophy that emphasizes learning by doing and by seeking answers to questions. Progressivists believe that students should learn how to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make decisions based on evidence. They also value the empirical method of education, which involves testing theories by experimentation. Progressivists aim to create a democratic and cooperative learning environment that reflects the real world and prepares students for life.

Progressivism shows up in edtech solutions when companies design products that support the student's interests, needs, and abilities. For example, an edtech solution that provides project-based learning activities, interdisciplinary studies, collaborative learning tools, and feedback for students in different subjects could be aligned with progressivism. Another example could be an edtech solution that helps students explore their own questions, hypotheses, and solutions using various sources of information and technology. Edtech solutions that follow progressivism should focus on facilitating inquiry-based learning and fostering creativity rather than transmitting factual knowledge and skills.

Constructivism is a learner-centred philosophy that emphasizes learning by constructing new knowledge and understanding based on prior knowledge and experiences. Constructivists believe that learners are active agents who create their own meaning through interaction with the world and with others. They also value the social and cultural context of learning, which influences how learners interpret and apply information. Constructivists aim to create a supportive and collaborative learning environment that fosters inquiry, reflection, and self-regulation.

Constructivism shows up in edtech solutions when companies design products that support the learner's exploration, discovery, and creation of knowledge. For example, an edtech solution that provides simulations, games, multimedia, or virtual reality for learners to engage in authentic and meaningful tasks could be aligned with constructivism. Another example could be an edtech solution that helps learners communicate, collaborate, and share their ideas and products with peers and experts using various tools and platforms. Edtech solutions that follow constructivism should focus on facilitating learner-centred and social learning rather than delivering teacher-centred and standardized instruction.

Critical pedagogy is a philosophy of education that applies concepts from critical theory and related traditions to the field of education and the study of culture. Critical pedagogy views teaching and learning as political acts that challenge the status quo and promote social justice and democracy. Critical pedagogy aims to empower learners to critically examine the power structures and patterns of inequality that shape their lives and society. Critical pedagogy also values the diversity, agency, and voice of learners and teachers as co-creators of knowledge.

Critical pedagogy can be applied in edtech solutions by designing products that support the learner's critical thinking, problem-solving, and action-taking skills. For example, an edtech solution that provides opportunities for learners to engage in social issues, analyze multiple perspectives, and participate in civic activities could be aligned with critical pedagogy. Another example could be an edtech solution that helps learners communicate, collaborate, and share their stories and experiences with diverse audiences using various media and formats. Edtech solutions that follow critical pedagogy should focus on facilitating transformative learning and social change rather than reproducing dominant knowledge and ideology.

When we reflect on the tools we tend to use more often than others and the tools that are more and more ubiquitous with edtech, we realize the philosophies we adhere to and those we promote as designers and creators of edtech solutions. What do you believe in, what is your philosophy for education and how are you promoting what you believe in what you design? Thanks for reading this post, feel free to share your thoughts below.

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