Why Technology for Thinking?

Here are some of the questions that I frequently ponder in my role as an education and technology integrator:

• Should all students have 24/7 access to a computer and the Internet? Or are we lifting the lid on Pandora’s iBox?
• Does technology erode thinking time?
• Does the use of the computer promote or abate critical thinking?
• (How) Can technology coexist with critical thinking in the classroom?

As educators, we need to learn how to employ technology in order to maximize its potential inside and outside the classroom. We need to understand when and how to apply technology tools. We must not use technology for technology’s sake – but to use technology wisely to promote wisdom.

So how can educators promote critical thinking whilst also harnessing the power of technology? Many years ago I was trying to map digital tools with Bloom’s taxonomy so that I could justify the use of tools through the whole gamut of thinking from knowledge acquisition to synthesis and evaluation. As with most 21c learners, I went straight to Google and behold, found a fabulous site by Andrew Churches, edorigami,  which has to be one of the best resources for understanding how to promote and teach critical thinking through the use of technology.

Who am I?

I am an educator. I am currently the High School Integrator and IB Diploma teacher for ITGS at the Western Academy of Beijing. My passion is the IB Diploma Information Technology in a Global Society, which I have been teaching since 2001 and examining since 2003 (http://www.insideitgs.net/). Since my move to WAB, I have completely shifted from a PC to a Mac environment. I am also an Apple Distinguished Educator, class of 2008, the Beijing ADE coordinator and currently serve on the ADE Asia Advisory Board.

A few more personal details

I was educated in England but have lived most of my life overseas. I live with my family here in Beijing (China is my twelfth country) and we all go to WAB.  My husband, Stephen, is an Australian, a traveler, an historian and a teacher; he teaches IB History and TOK in the High School; our daughter, Liz, is in the midst of her IB Diploma and our son, Harry, is mid-way through the MYP and in his final year of the Middle School.

WAB is our sixth international school.  Previously I was the Head of Faculty for Information Technology at Bangkok Patana School, IT Coordinator at UNIS Hanoi, Secondary School IT Coordinator/HOD at the British International School (Istanbul), science teacher at Doha College and IT/physics teacher at another smaller school in Doha.  I have also taught in Queensland, Australia – ranging from Grade 2 through to Grade 5 and high school Mathematics.

When I am able to access, I try to keep updated through twitter.com/mbrookes. I tend to use Facebook for friends.

Madeleine Brookes