Education technology seizes a pandemic opening

Ben Williamson

doi:10.1525/curh.2021.120.822.15

Education technology seizes a pandemic opening

Ben Williamson^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The rapid shift to online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the penetration of an algorithmic world view into education systems around the world. Promoted by a burgeoning educational technology industry, platforms that use algorithms to structure and monitor teaching and learning have been presented as technical solutions to systemic problems. But they have also created new problems and reinforced existing inequities, stirring up public and political backlashes. Beyond its immediate effects during the pandemic in 2020, the expanded use of algorithm-driven learning management systems backed by major corporations has major implications for the future of global education.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	15-20
Number of pages	6
Journal	Current History
Volume	120
Issue number	822
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1525/curh.2021.120.822.15
Publication status	Published - Jan 2021

Keywords

education
algorithms
big data
Covid-19
pandemic
technology

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10.1525/curh.2021.120.822.15

WilliamsonBCH2021EducationTechnologyPandemic
Published as Ben Williamson; Education Technology Seizes a Pandemic Opening. Current History 1 January 2021; 120 (822): 15–20. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/curh.2021.120.822.15. © 2021 by the Regents of the University of California. Copying and permissions notice: Authorization to copy this content beyond fair use (as specified in Sections 107 and 108 of the U. S. Copyright Law) for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by the Regents of the University of California/on behalf of the Sponsoring Society for libraries and other users, provided that they are registered with and pay the specified fee via Rightslink® or directly with the Copyright Clearance Center.
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Education technology seizes a pandemic opening

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