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Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools'Education is not the filling of pail, but the lighting of a fire'. Author: Mark Taylor
Do you feel the education system is sucking the life out of you and the pupils you serve? I think many of us wish we could click our fingers and make it fit for purpose. A place of growth with shared learning that empowers pupils to be their best selves, so they can create a world they want to inhabit now and in the future. While a magic wand or a visionary politician might sound like the answer I believe change is already happening. Educators are changing futures one conversation at a time. New technology and the environments where we learn are beginning to look different both in and out of the classroom. I hope you are seeing this first hand and are excited about what you can share with your pupils. We are having conversations, sharing organisations and communities that are supporting education in a way that you may have not experienced. Educational change will come from us all working in way that supports the best interests of each of our pupils, personalised learning. Governments and policy makers will follow when they see fully how it can be different. So let us teach, coach, mentor and create an environment that fuels every child with feedback, inspiration, resilience and empowerment. The Education on Fire community is shining the torch, so no matter where you are in the world or how you are supporting children this podcast is here for you. Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. Language: en Genres: Courses, Education, How To Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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GGGG Ep 4 - Navigating Technology in Education
Episode 481
Sunday, 8 February, 2026
This is the fourth instalment of the "Ger Graus Gets Gritty" series. Based on Chapter 4 of his book Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education (published by Routledge), this episode tackles one of the most contentious topics in modern education: technology.Rather than focusing on the technical aspects of digital tools, Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE reframes the conversation around technology as fundamentally a discussion about human behaviour, courage, and trust. From fountain pens to AI, he traces the historical pattern of moral panic that accompanies each technological advancement, arguing that our concerns reveal more about ourselves than about the technology itself.The conversation challenges the current discourse around banning mobile phones in schools, advocates for student-centered approaches to technology integration, and explores how young people might actually serve as role models for adults when it comes to digital literacy. We discuss engaging students in creating their own codes of conduct and for recognising that technology's impact—positive or negative—ultimately comes down to how we choose to use it.Key QuoteOn the Mobile Phone Ban Debate:"The fact that we are actually talking about banning mobile phones from schools is unbelievable. It is literally turning around to your children and to mine and saying, now, for whatever, six, seven, eight hours a day, we're going to pretend that they don't exist."Key Takeaways1. Technology Panic is a Historical Pattern, Not a New PhenomenonEvery technological advancement in education—from fountain pens to ballpoint pens, calculators to the Internet, and now AI—has been met with moral panic about "dumbing down" and declining standards. This reveals that our anxieties are less about the technology itself and more about our discomfort with change and our ability to adapt.2. The Problem Isn't the Technology—It's Human BehaviorTechnology is neutral; its impact depends entirely on how humans choose to use it. Rather than banning tools like mobile phones, we need to focus on developing appropriate behaviors, codes of conduct, and digital citizenship. The phone sitting on the desk isn't harmful—it's how we interact with it that matters.3. Students Should Be Partners in Creating Technology PoliciesYoung people are conspicuously absent from public discussions about technology in schools, despite being the most affected stakeholders. Students are capable of creating sophisticated codes of conduct for technology use—often better than adults can create—and are more effective at self-policing when they've been part of the solution.4. We're Failing at Technology's Greatest Promise: Equity and DemocratizationThe Internet represents humanity's greatest democratizing invention, yet we've failed dismally at addressing equity issues both within countries and globally. The gaps in technology access and digital literacy are growing rather than shrinking, which represents a massive missed opportunity for education and society.5. Young People Are Our Role Models in Technology, Not the Other Way AroundThe traditional model of role modeling—where older generations guide younger ones—is reversed when it comes to technology. Adults need to approach young people with respect and humility, learning from their digital fluency and working collaboratively to understand and navigate the technological landscape together.Join the conversation using #educationonfire and share your stories.Chapters:00:01 - Introduction to the Series01:14 - The...
