Teaching in the Information Age: more than just tools

In recent years, Australia has become a leader in digital education. For history teachers, the investment by governments and schools to make the internet freely available in the classroom has significantly increased the type and amount of historical information that can be used for teaching. While recent research has focused on how teachers might be able to harness the power of the internet, there is a scarcity of research that critically examines the way that the internet actively shapes the teaching of historical thinking. Using a socio-material theoretical lens, this study explores the insights of (n = 9) experts working in the field. Framework analysis was used to interpret the transcripts of semi-structured interviews conducted with each expert. This study has found that while the experts typically regard the internet as a tool to achieve their pedagogical goals, the internet exerts a strong influence on teachers’ aims and practices.