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Welcome to another deep dive.

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You know, today we're taking a look

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at educational technology.

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EdTech.

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Yeah, EdTech.

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Online or in the classroom, I feel like it is.

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It is everywhere.

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It really is, and that makes you wonder like,

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is it actually making a difference, you know?

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Yeah, is it all hype,

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or is it actually helping students learn?

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Exactly.

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And to kind of break it down and figure that out,

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we're gonna look at this blog post.

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It's called Four Prepositions,

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Framing, hashtag EdTech.

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And it's by Gary Ackerman.

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Oh yeah, Ackerman.

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He actually wrote this back in 2018.

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Wow.

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But then he revisited it in 2025,

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so it's got, you know, it's pretty relevant.

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And these prepositions are so simple,

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but really get it how technology's being used in the school.

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Yeah, he uses about by VIA and with to kind of frame.

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It's such a clever framework.

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Yeah, it really is.

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So the first one is teaching about computers.

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Like I remember those computer literacy classes

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like way back when.

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You did them a day, yeah.

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Learning how to use a mouse.

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Yes, input, output, devices, all that stuff.

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And it seems so important at the time.

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I thought I was like, you know, a tech wizard or something.

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Right, but knowing about computers

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doesn't automatically make you good

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at using them for learning.

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Yeah, it's kind of like.

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I always think of it like.

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Go on.

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Knowing the parts of a car doesn't mean you can drive.

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Yeah, exactly.

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So that takes us to the next one.

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Teaching by Y computers.

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Okay, so the computer's like the teacher.

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Yeah, exactly.

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Like those math games or spelling programs.

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Yeah, I remember those.

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I felt like sometimes I was just like going through the motions.

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Just drilling those facts.

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Yeah.

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Yeah, not really like learning.

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And that's a big issue with this approach, right?

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Wrote learning, not really deeper understanding.

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And it kind of feels like you're replacing the teacher

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with a computer program.

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And what does that mean for the role of the teacher

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in the classroom then?

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That's a good question.

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Okay, so what's next?

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Teaching VIA computers.

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This one is interesting.

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Okay, so VIA computers.

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So it's like using computers as a substitute for other tools,

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but not really changing how you're teaching.

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So can you give me an example?

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Yeah, so like Ackerman talks about students

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typing essays on computers, but then just printing them out.

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Oh, so it's like the same old essay just.

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Exactly, or like using a document camera

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instead of a whiteboard.

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Okay, so the technology's there, but it's not really like.

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It's not changing the learning experience at all.

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Yeah, it's like having like a fancy new oven.

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Okay.

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But you're just using it to reheat leftovers.

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That's a great analogy, like all that potential,

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but you're not really using it.

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Okay, so then the last one, teaching with computers.

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This is where it gets good.

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This is the good stuff.

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Yeah, this is where technology is really integrated

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into the learning experience.

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So it's not just about the device,

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it's how you use it to really help students learn.

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Exactly, like enhancing how they access information

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and analyze it and create things.

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So it's about empowering students, right?

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Absolutely, and that's what we call technology integration.

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Okay, I like it.

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Teachers are using technology in a way

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that really makes a difference.

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And I bet you've seen some really cool examples of that,

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you know, in your work.

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Oh yeah, tons, like one that comes to mind is.

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Wow, that's really cool.

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It sounds like it really takes learning

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to a whole new level.

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Yeah.

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And I love how it like uses technology

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to really help students like work together,

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you know, think critically.

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It's not just about consuming information, right?

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It's about doing something with it.

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Exactly.

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Yeah.

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And then it kind of brings us back

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to Ackerman's prepositions, right?

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Like just having the technology isn't enough.

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No, it's about using it in the right way.

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Yeah, it's about being intentional and thoughtful.

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And I guess these four prepositions

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kind of give educators like checklist, you know?

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A good way to think about it, yeah.

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Am I really using this to its full potential?

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Am I teaching with it?

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Or am I kind of just, you know?

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Falling back on those old habits.

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Yeah, or just like, you know,

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substituting it for something else.

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And it's not just for teachers, right?

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I mean, parents, students, administrators,

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anyone involved in education

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should be thinking about this stuff.

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Totally.

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And it's interesting that Ackerman

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like revisited these ideas in 2025.

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Yeah.

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And they were still so relevant, you know?

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Because the tech changes so fast.

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It really does.

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Yeah.

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So what do you think makes these ideas like so timeless?

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Hmm, well, I think technology's always gonna change, right?

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But good teaching, that stays pretty consistent.

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That's true.

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We always need to engage students,

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help them think critically, make sure they're learning.

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Technology can help with that.

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If we use it, right?

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Exactly.

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But it has to be thoughtful.

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It has to be intentional.

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And that's where the teacher comes in, right?

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Yeah, for sure.

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They decide how the technology's actually gonna be used

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in the classroom.

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They're the facilitators.

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They guide the students in how to use the tech

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to really learn.

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So out of these four prepositions,

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about by VIA, with, it sounds like with is really...

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A goal.

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Yeah, that's a sweet spot.

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That's when technology really becomes a partner in learning.

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I like that.

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It empowers both teachers and students.

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Yeah, but like you said before,

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tech is just one part of it, right?

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Oh, absolutely.

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You started it.

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Good teachers engage in curriculum,

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a supportive environment.

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Yeah, for sure.

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It all works together.

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And we need to keep having these conversations, right?

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And asking these tough questions.

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Constantly reevaluating how we're using technology

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and education.

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Because things change so quickly.

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It's a process.

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You know, reflection, adaptation, innovation,

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it never stops.

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So as we wrap up this deep dive

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into Ackerman's prepositions,

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what's like one big takeaway for our listeners?

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Let me think.

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It's like that one question.

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The question that everyone should be asking themselves

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about ed tech is,

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is this technology really serving the learner?

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Helping them understand the content better?

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Like is it actually helping them learn?

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Yeah.

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Is it helping them be more creative,

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think more critically, work together better?

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Or is it just, you know,

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I like distraction.

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Yeah, is it just like shiny and new,

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but not actually useful?

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Exactly.

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Those are the questions we need to be asking.

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Because ed tech is here to stay, right?

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It's not going away.

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So we need to be smart about it.

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It really makes you think about

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all the different ways we've experienced tech in school,

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like as students.

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Oh yeah, definitely.

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I mean, we've all been there, right?

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Some good, some not so good.

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For sure.

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Some classes, I remember the tech was like amazing.

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Like it really opened things up.

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It can be so powerful when it's used, right?

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But other times it was like a total distraction.

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Or even a barrier to learning.

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Totally.

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And I think it's good to look back

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on those experiences, right?

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I think so.

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Like think about the times

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when tech really helped you learn.

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What made it work so well?

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Were you exploring new ideas,

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connecting with other people?

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Creating something new.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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And when it didn't work, like what was going on there?

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Was it the tech itself or how it was being used?

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That's a good question.

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And it's a question we should all be asking

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students, educators, everyone.

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Because tech is here to stay right.

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It's not going anywhere.

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So we need to be smart about how we use it.

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Absolutely.

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Be informed, be critical,

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speak up for what's best for learners.

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So as we wrap up this deep dive

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into Ackerman's Four Prepositions.

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About by V.O. With.

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I hope it's given you a new way to think about ed tech.

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Like a new lens to look through.

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Yeah. And remember that key question.

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Is this technology truly serving the learner?

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Is it helping them learn and grow?

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Or is it just another distraction?

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Because in the end, technology is just a tool.

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It's up to us to use it wisely.

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To make learning better for everyone.

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Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.

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We hope you'll keep exploring these ideas

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and be a part of shaping the future of learning.