The Need for Techno-Ethics in Teacher Education: A Critical Analysis of Literature

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 1
  In Poster Session: Technology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Technologies are often introduced into education without critical reflection; today, problematic technologies are increasingly embedded in educational settings. Here, we sought to understand the ways the field of educational technology has historically considered conceptualizations of legal, ethical, and socially-responsible uses of technology. With a between-study instrumental literature analysis, we examined 410 scholarly articles from two prominent technology and teacher education journals spanning 10 years (2009-2018). We found that technoethical concerns were largely absent from this literature; when scholars did explicitly address technoethics, it was often through individualistic appeals. We suggest teacher educators consider thinking, writing, and teaching first about, and then with technologies so as to ensure ethical engagement—foregrounding technoethical considerations to encourage growth, democracy, and the common good.

Authors

• Bret Staudt Willet, Florida State University

• Marie K. Heath, Loyola University Maryland

• Daniel G Krutka, University of North Texas