Learning Technology

It’s time to rethink the study of technology, exploring its impact on human history and culture.

In the broadest sense, technology refers to something “found or made,” separate from the human body, used with cognitive goals in mind and capable of changing the state of objects, organisms or even ourselves. The study of technology is important, as it’s the embodiment of humanity’s cultural achievements and can potentially enhance human capabilities on a psychological and physical level. Scholars of technology should aspire to identify “laws” of technology rooted in the patterns that emerge in the way humanity uses, innovates, develops and perceives technology.

Particular attention should be paid to the technology used to learn and teach. Humanity has used learning technologies, such as cave paintings, since prehistory. The development of writing in Mesopotamia and Egypt was an early technological milestone, enabling human learning. Learning technology shares these 10 characteristics:

1. It has cultural significance.
2. It triggers exponential growth.
3. It’s scalable.
4. It results...