Technology broadly refers to the tools and machines that humans use to solve problems in their everyday lives. It can include everything from a hand tool to a space station or particle accelerator. Technology doesn’t have to be physical, though; computer software also falls under this umbrella. The idea behind technology is that it brings the world closer to how we wish it to be. This intervening power is present in the sublime of planetary science, but it’s also found in changing gears while driving or brushing teeth.
The essential feature of technology is that it prioritizes some low-resistance path to a particular end. This necessarily necessitates that it also deprioritizes other paths, which might serve different ends. For example, when digital cameras became popular, people shifted away from analogue photography, with its inefficient but gratifying workflows and painstaking culture of physically retouching images. It is this aspect of technology that distinguishes it from other tools.
While there is an element of truth in this view, it’s important to avoid identifying technology with progress. The fact that some societies have stopped using certain technologies, or even regressed to a lower stage of development, shows that technological advancement is not a natural or inevitable phenomenon.
While the use of technology in the classroom can help students stay connected to classroom materials and one another, it’s important to keep in mind that it is not a replacement for teaching. While some teachers spend a lot of their time troubleshooting tech, others are taking innovative approaches to technology in the classroom. For instance, when it comes to group projects, teachers can use digital signup forms to give students the option to work at times that are most convenient for them.