Editorial

EDITORIAL: A New Beginning

Author: Gerald Ardito (Manhattanville College)

  • EDITORIAL: A New Beginning

    Editorial

    EDITORIAL: A New Beginning

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Abstract

This volume introduces four interesting and astute works that contribute to our understanding and use of learning technologies. The first is by Bryan Artman and explores the relationship between the perceptions and misconceptions by pre-service teachers of technology use on a 1:1 laptop program for high school students. The second is by Shane Ede, and investigates the use of gamification in classrooms through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. The third, by Betul Czerkawski, reports on digital tools that support the emerging interdisciplinary field of GeoHumanities. The fourth is a book review by Jerry Yamashita of Jennifer Williams’ book Teach Boldly: Using Ed Tech for Social Good. Donna Hess, which exemplifies that instructional design principles backed by a theoretical approach are critical in conceiving compelling foreign language practices. Taken together, these papers explore how learning technologies and their use can influence learner engagement and motivation. Furthermore, this is the inaugural issue of ITLT with me as Editor.

Keywords: 1:1 laptop programs, learning technologies, self-determination theory, gamification, student engagement, student motivation, Issues and Trends in Learning

How to Cite:

Ardito, G., (2022) “EDITORIAL: A New Beginning”, Issues and Trends in Learning Technologies 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.2458/itlt.5130

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Published on
02 Jul 2022
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Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0
Editorial: A New Beginning

EDITORIAL: A New Beginning

Gerald P. Ardito, Editor, ITLT

The ends of academic years are full of relief and promise. Relief from the work that has proceeded it, and promise in the new work that arises from rest and reflection. We end this academic year with a set of four articles that discuss important themes in learning technologies. The first article of this issue reports on research conducted by Bryan Artman into the perceptions and misconceptions in use of 1:1 laptop programs by pre-service teachers. Dr. Artman’s study shows that there are gaps between the potential benefits for high school students in from the use of 1:1 laptop initiatives, and that these potential benefits are mediated by the perceptions and misconceptions about learning technologies on the part of teachers and teacher candidates. The second article, a graduate research paper Shane Ede, investigates the role that gamification may have on student engagement through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2020). This paper is an important contribution to the study of student engagement. The third article, by Betul Czerkawski, provides a detailed and useful review of digital tools that support work in the interdisciplinary field of GeoHumanities, which involves the intersection of geography, arts, and humanities. Apart from her detailed and useful review of some tools that support this work, Betul makes the case for the importance of such interdisciplinary investigations. Finally, the fourth article is a review by Jerry Yamashita of Jennifer William’s book Teach Boldly (2019), which offers suggestions on how teachers can build skills and use tools in the classroom to make change for social good.

This issue of ITLT is my inaugural issue as Editor. I am deeply appreciative of the support I have received from my predecessor, Dr. Betul Czerkawski, as well as from the former and current journal staff, especially: Nicole Schmidt, Gene Lyman, and Pamela Amendola. I very much look forward to all that comes next.

Excelsior!

References

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology 25(1), 54-67. https://doi.org/10.1006/ceps.1999.1020

Williams, J. (2019). Teach boldly: Using edtech for social good. International Society for Technology in Education .