Last weekend, I had the honor of presenting at EdTechGZ 2026, an international educational technology conference hosted by the American International School of Guangzhou. The event brought together over 700 educators, school leaders, and learning-focused organizations like Microsoft, from 12 countries, all connected by a shared purpose: reflecting on how technology can meaningfully improve learning.
What stood out most was not the scale of the event, but the depth of the conversations. EdTechGZ created space to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and think critically about the role technology plays in developing not only academic skills, but also student curiosity, responsibility, and thoughtful engagement with the world.
Using Technology with Intention
My workshop, “Beyond the Screen,” explored the idea that technology should do more than speed things up or add novelty. When used with intention, it should push students to think deeply, to ask better questions and to engage more meaningfully with content.
For example, in an Elementary English classroom, where students are developing their speaking skills, technology can become a powerful reflective tool. Students can record themselves telling a story, listen back to their own voices, and together with their teacher identify and correct pronunciation challenges. The learning does not happen in the act of recording itself, but in the reflection, feedback, and growth that follow.
Another example can be seen in a Middle School Science class. While studying plant growth, students can document the process by taking daily photographs. At the end of the experiment, they create a presentation showing how the plant has changed over time and produce a video in which they explain the process in their own words. Here, technology does not replace hands-on learning; it extends it, allowing students to observe, analyze, and communicate their understanding more effectively.
Two guiding ideas framed our discussion:
“If a child is just clicking, the learning has stopped.”
“Technology should not make learning easier—it should make learning deeper.”
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
We also addressed the role of artificial intelligence in education. Tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and other Large Language Models are not inherently negative. The real challenge lies in how we use them and how we teach students to use them responsibly from a young age. AI should not do the thinking for students, but rather help them generate better questions, explore multiple perspectives, and form their own ideas. It is equally important to teach students that AI can make mistakes, and that questioning information is a vital part of learning and intellectual growth.
For families, this work is about trust. Trust that learning environments are intentionally designed, that technology is used with purpose, and that educators are guiding students to become thoughtful, ethical, and independent learners.
I was honored to represent the CA community at EdTechGZ 2026 and to share practical, classroom-ready ideas that aim to positively impact teaching practices and ultimately, student learning. Ultimately, the question is not which technology we use, but how and why we use it to support deeper, more human learning experiences that truly go beyond the screen.
Jefferson Aranda
Band Director, Digital Music, MYP Music, and HS Service Learning Coordinator