The Open Source Perspective in Education Technology: A Digital Kon-Tiki Journey

Introducing Technology To Meet Unmet Needs

The history and current landscape of education technology define both the need and the opportunity for OSLAP.

The history of technology has always been an adventurous journey. Popular accounts portray innovators and entrepreneurs as heroes in Joseph Campbell-esque monomyths, liminal figures who respond to calls that only they hear by venturing out to forge alliances and overcome obstacles so that they can share the benefits of vision and insight with the rest of us upon their return. However, our understandings and uses of technology have changed over time along with cultural norms and economic trends. Today’s heavy emphasis on technology as a purchasable commodity — witness the line at the Apple Store — ignores the original concept of technology, which is rooted in the purposeful use of tools, not the tools themselves. The root of the word technology itself comes from the Ancient Greek word techne, which meant “cleverness.”

Cleverness is a quality best illustrated through its strategic application. When Odysseus landed on the island of the Cyclops, he told the Cyclops that his name was Nobody. Later, when Odysseus blinded the Cyclops and the Cyclops ran around howling in pain, the other Cyclops asked who did it so they could punish the attacker. “It was Nobody! Nobody did this!” the Cyclops roared. The other Cyclops shrugged and went back to their business. There was Nobody to find, hiding in plain sight.