The Use of Mobile Technologies in Post-Pandemic Times: Teacher Agency in the View of the Ecological Approach

Digital technologies play a vital role in social, political, and economic relations in contemporary society. These technologies were prevalent during the pandemic, and teachers’ lived experiences through that time can serve as a starting point for post-pandemic reflections. The study aims to investigate: i) the situations and the context that contributed to the current perception about the use of the smartphone for teachers’ education and work, ii) the way inclusive pedagogies can be integrated into the teachers’ praxis to ensure everyone’s access to education and to what extent can smartphones be used to support actions with a view to social transformation. The participants in this study are pre-service language teachers from the School of Letters – Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data was generated through the use of a questionnaire. The findings indicate the indissociable connection between the context and the exercise of teacher agency. Technology in isolation is not a lever for transformation, but mobile technology, when ecologically situated and critically used, can become a force for change.