Ian Egan 
https://vimeo.com/286076552
This is part 1 in a two-part series with Sonny Magana
When Dr. Sonny Magana was a graduate student doing research at Rutgers in 1984, personal computers were still new. Enthusiasm for the new teaching tool was high in the beginning, but Sonny discovered in his research that when the novelty of using a computer wore off, so did any gains in student engagement. He discovered that when technology replaces the teacher, gains are minimal at best; when technology is used to enhance proven teaching practices, however, there are positive impacts on academic achievement. This revelation led to Sonny developing the T3 Framework for Innovation in Education.
According to Sonny’s research, the integration of technology comes in three phases:
- T1: Translational – leveraging technology to translate analog into digital, increasing accuracy and speed.
- T2: Transformational – leveraging technology to transform the learner, the learning and its outcomes.
- T3: Transcendent – leveraging technology to ignite the creative spirit, allowing everyone to reach their full potential.
I recently sat down with Sonny to discuss the T3 Framework, and he talked about how it is a framework for educational organizations to shift from low-impact technology use in the classroom to integrating systemic technology use throughout the entire building. 
“School districts have been trying the simple ‘digitalization’ of curriculum for over 30 years, and it hasn’t worked,” Sonny says. “Some people think you have to choose either the technology or the human. That is a very simplistic and inane conflict; to say it’s either one or the other is ridiculous.” Sonny compares the two using a musical metaphor: “The pedagogy is the melody, the technology integration is the harmony, and together you get great music.”
“The standard teaching method has always been the ‘knowledge transfer model’ to transfer information from the teacher to the student,” Sonny says. Educators thought that the technology was just a new way to perform an old task, and Sonny says that was where the mistake was made. The T3 Framework is different in that rather than replacing the teacher, it’s a tool for the teacher that enhances a proven and effective lesson plan while (according to recent research) essentially quadrupling academic achievement gains in the classroom.
“We have to remember that technology has no inherent value as a teaching tool in and of itself,” Sonny notes. “The value is made manifest by how that technology is used, and by whom. That is what the T3 Challenge is all about.”
About Dr. Sonny Magana
Dr. Anthony J. Sonny Magana III is an award-winning educational futurist, best-selling author, and pioneering educational technology researcher. Sonny is a highly sought-after leadership consultant, speaker, and instructional coach with more than thirty years experience helping educational systems around the world realize the power of transcendent learning.
The author of numerous research studies and articles, Sonnys newest book, Disruptive Classroom Technologies: A Framework for Innovation in Education, was recently published through Corwin Press to wide international acclaim.
A tireless advocate for transcending the status quo, Sonny founded and served as Principal of Washington States first CyberSchool in 1996, a groundbreaking blended learning program that continues to meet the needs of at-risk students in Washington. He is a recipient of the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and the Governors Commendation for Educational Excellence.
An avid musician, yoga practitioner, and beekeeper, Sonny holds a bachelor of science degree from Stockton University, a master of education degree from City University (where he was honored with the Presidential Award for meritorious scholarship), an educational administration endorsement, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Seattle University. Follow Sonny on Twitter.
Further Reading
- Education World – Technology Integration- Ideas That Work
- TeachHub – The 4 Stages of Technology Integration: Supporting Student Growth
- EdTech Magazine – Mobile Classrooms Bring STEM Where Students Need IT
EdCircuit Staff