As I reflect back on my learning this term, the thing that has stuck out the most to me is that tech literacy needs to be taught and is not an automatic skill people have- even if they are born into a society filled with it. Furthermore, tech literacy is more than being able to use a certain app, webpage, or program, it is about transferable skills, critical thinking skills, and how to be safe while using technology.

Technology unlocks so much potential for our learners- from open-learning resources, to research, videos, photos, books, simulators and more, there is so much to explore and learn from. At the same time, an educators role is to help the learner navigate this treasure trove of information and make sense of it- both safely and critically. As well, educators act as the gate keepers to content that can be harmful and to potentially harmful overuse and reliance on technology.

Masterhatch, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As the world continues to change and evolve, the tech landscape will too. I will be watching closely as new questions arise, such as the use of AI in homework and the addictive power of social media on teens.