Innovative Practices in K-12 Education: the use of technology in the classroom from ink wells to AI

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

“Innovative Practices in K-12 Education” introduces students to the past and present technology usage in the K-12 classroom, from the innovative to the controversial to the catastrophic. We will consider early attempts at using technology in education as well as barriers to innovation and counter-movements to remove all technology from instruction. Throughout the course, we will discuss ways to evaluate innovative pedagogical practices based on educational research best practices. Students will explore the limits of technology use in the classroom and determine what is helpful and harmful in creating learners who can think critically and solve real-world problems. Topics covered include what defines “technology” in the classroom, disruptive innovation, gamification, personalized and blended learning, inclusive education, and the emerging use (and possibilities) of AI in the classroom.