Decolonizing Digital Education: Analyzing the intersection of blackness and educational technology

• In Event: Black Studies in the Contemporary Moment

Abstract

In this paper and project, I explore how blackness intersects with the development process of educational technology and evaluate how culturally competent existing technologies are. I research software such as IXL, Reading Plus, and other technologies used to instruct students in Florida. This project surveys the existing literature on the intersection of educational technology and blackness. Alongside the existing literature, I explore how ideas within post-slavery trauma syndrome may offer insight into the experiences black students have with educational technology. I identify the common gaps in cultural awareness present in the current technologies previously listed and offer solutions to bridge this gap when designing new educational technology. I also suggest solutions with wireframes for new features on Figma - a web application used for interface design – as the main conclusion of this research. Wireframes are a visual tool used to draft how a future technology - typically a web application - will look.

I argue that there are cultural gaps that impact black students within the current educational technologies. Post-slavery traumatic syndrome and other topics within black studies can be used to further understand these existing cultural gaps. I argue that there is more to be done to bridge these gaps, and the solutions can be found in existing literature within black studies.

Author

• Mouray Hutchinson, University of Florida