An Urgency of Teachers: the Work of Critical Digital Pedagogy

by Jesse Stommel, Sean Michael Morris, Audrey Watters (Foreword)

Too many approaches to teaching with technology are instrumental at best, devoid of heart and soul at worst. The role of the teacher is made impersonal and mechanistic by a desire for learning to be efficient and standardized. Solutionist approaches like the learning management system, the rubric, quality assurance, all but remove the will of the teacher to be compassionate, curious, and to be a learner alongside their students. As the authors write in their “It is urgent that we have teachers. In a political climate increasingly defined by obstinacy, lack of criticality, and deflection of fact and care; in a society still divided across lines of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexuality, income, ability, and privilege; in a digital culture shaped by algorithms that neither know nor accurately portray truth, teaching has an important (urgent) role to play." This collection of essays explores the authors’ work in, inquiry into, and critique of online learning, educational technology, and the trends, techniques, hopes, fears, and possibilities of digital pedagogy. The ideas of this volume span almost two decades of pedagogical thinking, practice, outreach, community development, and activism.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Technology, Research, Social Justice

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2018

Reviews

[Don Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is a collection of essays and it is thought provoking beyond measure. I'm so glad this book happened to fall into my lap thanks to a tweet that I happened to see. I recommend this book to every K-12 and higher ed teacher and student. There is something here for everyone to chew on. Be sure to follow the authors Jesse Stommel (@jessifer) and Sean Michael Morris (@slamteacher)

[Rob O'Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of essays about where (higher) education is heading. My only critique is that I had hoped there would be more "road maps" provided. Granted, much of what the authors discuss is theoretical and hypothetical. However, some proposals or discussion prompts would have been helpful.

[Brenna]

Review forthcoming in JIME.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an early career college professor. Can't recommend this book enough. Looking forward to participating in this collective and learning more.