Ryan Williamson, who runs the blog titled the "Socratic Review" (what Williamson describes as "the intersection of modern technology and classical education"), has written a thoughtful critique of my post from yesterday.

In that post, "Avoiding Education as Self-Checkout Line," I warned about the increasing reliance on apps to deliver almost every facet of the learning experience. Though some apps, I said, are "very useful, both professionally and personally," I cautioned that "the more we embrace an 'app-for-everything' mentality, the more we marginalize the human role." I lamented the "trend of outsourcing," which is creating "the school equivalent of the self-checkout line."

Williamson, who teaches Latin at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo., praised my piece but had some concerns. Regarding my worry about the marginalization of the human role, he writes: "I think he's spot-on with that danger, but I do think he glosses over some of the ways in which using apps, even some of the specific apps he calls out, can actually increase the engagement that is so important." (Emphasis in original.) Williamson notes that many of the new technologies can actually free teachers to focus on higher level work and spend more time connecting with students.

I encourage you to read Ryan's full essay. I am thankful for his contribution and the dialogue it inspires for Ignatian educators.