An investigation of the metaphors that abound in education technology, and how they can be used. In 2020, seemingly overnight, technology took center stage in the delivery of not just some, but all education. The metaphors to describe this time leaned heavily on catastrophic terms: revolution, tsunami, and disruption. But why do apocalyptic metaphors abound in the field of education technology and what purpose do they serve? Martin Weller demonstrates that metaphors can enable educators to move beyond pragmatic concerns into more imaginative and playful uses of technology while cautioning against many of the existing metaphors that play into the adoption of technology that damages and limits the learner experience. Metaphors of Ed Tech is essential reading for anyone involved in education, but particularly for those still determining the impact and potential of the unprecedented pivot to online learning in 2020.
