It’s an exciting time for education technology.

Every day we hear about school districts and universities eagerly exploring and creating technological resources that facilitate learning and improve performance. That’s the hope anyway.

But I’ve got to wonder: Are we using our new technology to do the same old things?

While reading through a university-level textbook the other day, I decided to check out its companion website. My browsing revealed practice quizzes, flash cards and games based on the text. Helpful? Perhaps to someone. But aren’t these online resources simply repackaging content that could easily be delivered in a low tech way?

Of course, many education technologies go well beyond repackaging the same old content. These leaders excel at introducing new formats and helpful functionality. Wikis allow students to collaborate in a way that would be difficult with a pen and paper. Smartboards integrate resources in a way regular whiteboards can’t.

But even these popular technology solutions won’t improve student performance unless they are oriented around proper learning goals. Like all learning tools, educational technologies must engage students’ curiosity, develop critical thinking skills, encourage good questions and cultivate effective communication proficiency.

Too many “innovative” technology solutions seem content finding interesting ways to teach students to memorize and parrot information.

As Harvard’s Tony Wagner says, you can have all the equipment and technology you want, but “if you don’t teach kids how to think, how to think beyond multiple choice, you’ve got a problem.”

Technology, by itself, cannot reform education. But, as we seek better ways to teach our students how to think and communicate effectively, technology may prove to be our greatest ally.