UMN Learning Technologies

📢Exciting news! Our own Dr. Angelica Pazurek has contributed to a thought-provoking manifesto, "Teaching and Learning in a Time of Generative AI: A Critical Collective Stance to Better Navigate the Future," now published in Open Praxis! 🎓✨ This article dives deep into the promises and challenges of integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into education. GenAI technologies, including chatbots and advanced algorithms, offer promising avenues for personalized learning, increased efficiency, and broader educational access. However, the manifesto emphasizes that these tools are not neutral; they embody specific worldviews and biases that can inadvertently perpetuate existing inequalities and marginalize diverse perspectives. The authors caution that an overreliance on GenAI may erode essential human elements in education, such as creativity, critical thinking, and empathy, potentially replacing meaningful human interactions with algorithmic solutions. Angelica Pazurek, Ph.D. Pazurek and her co-authors provide actionable recommendations, such as: 🌟 Balancing human oversight and AI tools. 🌟 Addressing biases in algorithms. 🌟 Fostering authentic, meaningful learning experiences. 🌟 Promoting responsible and evidence-based AI adoption in education. If you're curious about how AI is shaping the future of education and want to engage with a critical, informed perspective, this article is a must-read! 📖 Read the full manifesto here: https://lnkd.in/eFrmBSza Let’s join the conversation about the role of GenAI in shaping a thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful educational landscape! 🚀💡 https://lt.umn.edu #LTPulse #EducationalTechnology #FutureOfLearning #CriticalAnalysis #DigitalResponsibility #LearningTechnologies #JoinTheConversation #LTUMN #UMNdriven #UMNproud #IamLT #wemakethingshappen

🤔💡Few voices are as incisive, thought-provoking, and critical as Audrey Watters. Audrey Watters has spent over a decade challenging the status quo, exposing the myths, and questioning the promises that often accompany technological advancements in education. 🔸Who is she? Audrey Watters isn’t your typical EdTech enthusiast. As the author of The Monsters of Education Technology and the force behind the influential blog Hack Education, she is committed to uncovering the hidden implications of technology in learning. Her work emphasizes that while technology holds transformative potential, it often reflects and amplifies existing inequities in education. 🔸What to know? One of Watters’ most notable contributions is her book, Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized Learning, which traces the origins of educational technology to mid-20th-century teaching devices. By exploring the historical roots of today’s tech trends, Watters reminds us that many of the challenges we face, such as access, equity, and pedagogy are not new. 🔸Why follow? In an era where technology often moves faster than policy, Watters serves as a crucial voice for accountability. Her critiques remind us that EdTech isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, nor is it a panacea for deeply entrenched systemic issues in education. Let Audrey’s voice inspire you to think critically about the intersection of technology, education, and society. After all, innovation is most impactful when paired with thoughtful reflection. https://lt.umn.edu/ #CriticalVoices #EdTech #EducationalTechnology #CriticalEdTech #LearningTechnologies #FutureOfLearning #LTUMN #IamLT #JoinTheConversation #wemakethingshappen

🔍What’s Next in EdTech Careers for 2025? 📢Key Trends to Watch As the field of Learning Technologies continues to evolve, 2025 promises an exciting array of career opportunities. From leveraging AI to enhancing learning experiences, EdTech professionals are at the forefront of enriching education. Here’s what you need to know about the trends influencing the job market and how you can future-proof your career. 📊 Skills That Set You Apart🌐📲✨ To stay competitive in the 2025 EdTech job market, focus on honing these in-demand skills: 🤖 AI Integration: Understand how to leverage AI to create adaptive, data-informed learning solutions. 💻 Instructional Design: Master the art of designing content that resonates with diverse learners. 🎮Gamification Expertise: Use game mechanics to boost learner engagement and motivation. 🌍 Adaptability: In a field driven by technological advances, the ability to learn and pivot is key. 🚀 The Learning Technologies industry thrives on innovation. Professionals who embrace lifelong learning and stay ahead of emerging trends will be best positioned for success. This mindset ensures you’re not only keeping pace but also leading the charge in a rapidly evolving landscape. 🧠💡 Are you ready to influence the future of education? Join our Learning Technologies program to gain the skills and insights needed for these emerging roles. Our program equips you to navigate the dynamic world of EdTech. Start your journey today and be part of the future of education. https://lt.umn.edu #FutureProofed #EdTechSkills #EdTechTrends #LearningTechnologies #EmergingTech #FutureOfLearning #JobMarketInsights #CareerGrowth #LTjobs #LTUMN #UMNdriven #UMNproud #IamLT #JoinTheConversation #wemakethingshappen

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays from LT!!!

🤔 How do we influence how knowledge is developed, disseminated, and applied? In the evolving field of Learning Technologies, staying ahead of the curve is not just an option, it's a necessity. As an LT community, we are at the forefront of influencing how knowledge is developed, disseminated, and applied. When it comes to emerging technologies, challenging traditional paradigms is key to unlocking transformative possibilities. One event that showcased the potential of innovation this year was EdTech Hack 2024. The challenge, Reimagining Learning: Developing Educational Materials with Emerging Technologies, invited participants to explore how tools like 📲💻 AI, AR/VR, and digital twins could transform educational content. The focus on creating interactive, personalized, and adaptive learning materials is a powerful reminder of how technology can drive meaningful change in education. The projects highlighted the incredible potential of emerging technologies: 🔸AI for creating adaptive learning paths tailored to individual learners. 🔸AR/VR for immersive simulations that make complex or risky scenarios safe to explore. 🔸Digital twins for replicating systems or environments to provide hands-on experience without physical constraints. EdTech Hack 2024 showed us what’s possible when innovation meets purpose. As LT students, we have the unique opportunity to explore new possibilities to the ways education is designed and experienced. Let’s challenge ourselves to think big, experiment boldly, and create learning experiences that will brighten the future of education. 💡 Are you ready to carry the torch of innovation? Let’s continue building the future of learning, one project at a time. https://lt.umn.edu #AdaptiveLearning #TheLTExperience #FutureOfLearning #InnovateToEducate #EdTechInnovation #DigitalResponsibility #LearningTechnologies #JoinTheConversation #LTUMN #IamLT #wemakethingshappen

📣 Looking for a fresh, critical take on digital technology in education? Meet Justin Reich! 📚💡 Who is he? Justin Reich is an Associate Professor at MIT and the director of the Teaching Systems Lab, where he leads innovative research on teacher education and professional development. As an educator, researcher, and author, Reich is at the forefront of exploring how digital tools can influence the future of teaching and learning. His work challenges conventional approaches, pushing us to critically examine how technology can truly serve learners. What to know? Reich challenges our assumptions on how technology has been used to “disrupt” education. He is the author of "Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can’t Transform Education," a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of EdTech in real-world classrooms. Why follow? Reich’s work is a guiding light for those navigating the complexities of EdTech. He reminds us that technology is a tool, not a solution, and that the heart of education lies in the relationships and systems we build to support learners. Follow Justin Reich to join the critical conversation influencing the future of education. Are there other voices you'd like to spotlight? Let us know in the comments! https://lt.umn.edu #CriticalVoices #EdTech #EducationalTechnology #CriticalEdTech #LearningTechnologies #FutureOfLearning #JustinReich #LTUMN #IamLT #JoinTheConversation #wemakethingshappen

The job market for Learning Technologies offers exciting opportunities across diverse industries. As organizations embrace digital learning to meet the demands of a changing workforce, LT students are well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic landscape 🚀. Here’s what you need to know to future-proof your career. Organizations in different sectors are investing heavily in LT expertise to upskill their workforce and drive continuous learning. Key opportunities include: - 🧬Healthcare: Designing training for medical professionals on new technologies and procedures. - 💵Finance: Creating compliance and skills-based training for evolving financial regulations. - 🤖Tech: Supporting rapid innovation with training in AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Lifelong learning is no longer optional, it’s essential, making LT professionals invaluable in designing scalable, adaptive learning solutions. The future is bright, and the opportunities are vast. Whether you’re interested in corporate training, e-learning development, or instructional design, the skills you develop now will set you up for success in a thriving job market. Ready to build a future-proof career? Explore how our Learning Technologies program can help you prepare for emerging roles in this dynamic field! https://lt.umn.edu #FutureProofed #EdTechSkills #EdTechTrends #LearningTechnologies #SkillsForSuccess #WorkforceDevelopment #FutureOfLearning #JobMarketInsights #CareerGrowth #LTjobs #LTUMN #UMNdriven #UMNproud #IamLT #JoinTheConversation #wemakethingshappen

In a world where social media continue to define, influence, shift, and shape how we connect, learn, and engage, 💻CI 3342: Social Media & Connected Learning invites students to explore the profound influence of digital platforms on education. Grounded in the theories of Connected Learning (Mimi Ito) and Participatory Culture (Henry Jenkins), this course delves into how social media transforms learning across both formal classrooms and informal spaces. The course empowers students to navigate the complexities of social media thoughtfully and responsibly. Explore how learning extends beyond traditional settings, following pathways that bridge formal education and everyday life. Social media is not just a distraction but a tool to re-imagine what learning is and where it happens. Develop skills to become both critical consumers and ethical producers of new media. Analyze the affordances and challenges of social media, from enhancing creativity to addressing issues like misinformation, privacy, and digital well-being. If you're interested in: 👨🏻🏫Understanding how social media can enhance education 🧮Exploring the intersection of technology, culture, and learning 🌎Developing skills in content creation and community engagement 📲Becoming a leader in the evolving landscape of digital learning Then this course is for you! Ready to explore how social media can transform learning? Enroll in CI 3342: Social Media & Connected Learning and join a community of learners shaping the future of education through connected pathways. https://lt.umn.edu #EdTech #DigitalLearning #ConnectedLearning #OnlineEducation #MediaLiteracy #EdTechInnovation #FutureOfLearning #LTUMN #IamLT #UMNdriven #UMNproud #TheLTExperience #LearningTechnologies #Spring2025 #wemakethingshappen

📣 Looking for a fresh, critical take on digital technology in education? Meet Ruha Benjamin! 📚💡 Who is she? Ruha Benjamin is a renowned scholar in the fields of sociology and African American Studies. She is the author of groundbreaking books like "Race After Technology" and "Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want," which explore the ways technology can perpetuate inequality—and how we can design systems that promote inclusion and justice instead. What to know? In the rapidly evolving world of technology, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of innovation. But as we adopt new tools and systems, whose voices are left out? Ruha Benjamin, a sociologist and professor at Princeton University, is a trailblazer in answering this critical question. Her work shines a spotlight on how technology intersects with race, equity, and justice, making her an essential voice in the conversation about Learning Technologies. Why follow? Benjamin’s insights are transformative for anyone working in EdTech or Learning Technologies. Key themes of her work include: 🔸Equity by Design: Benjamin argues that fairness and inclusion must be baked into technology from the start, not added as an afterthought. 🔸The Hidden Bias in Tech: She reveals how algorithms and digital tools can reinforce existing inequalities if not carefully designed. 🔸Empowering Communities: Her research highlights how technology can uplift marginalized communities when developed with their needs and voices at the center. Follow Ruha Benjamin to explore how justice and innovation can go hand in hand. Are there other voices you'd like to spotlight? Let us know in the comments! https://lt.umn.edu/ #CriticalVoices #EdTech #EducationalTechnology #CriticalEdTech #LearningTechnologies #FutureOfLearning #RuhaBenjamin #LTUMN #IamLT #JoinTheConversation