Philosophy for Using Technology in Education
"There can be infinite uses of the computer and of new age technology, but if teachers themselves are not able to bring it into the classroom and make it work, then it fails.”-Nancy Kassebaum. As a teacher I believe it is imperative that we are technologically inclined as it relates to carrying out instructions within our new classrooms. The era in which we reside demands much of us, as technology has become a significant aspect of our everyday lives and our ‘new norm’. Technology can be used for anything; it makes work easier and allows for the impossible to be made possible. I believe that the continued use of technology in education will be a great advancement as it allows students to think outside the norm and find interesting ways to gain and retain knowledge while broadening their minds.
Students should demonstrate creativity when thinking, constructing knowledge and developing process using technology. I believe students should communicate and collaborate by interacting with peers, develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other culture. This can be done by utilizing technological tools, for example the computer or any digital tool can be used to Skye, Zoom or Face Time, which are applications created to allow visual communications with anyone anywhere in the world. Students should apply digital tools to gather, evaluate and use information, as a teacher I can incorporate the instructions from the ASSURE model to help my students by analyzing the attributes of them, state standards and objectives for learning, select effective strategies and technological media to help enhance lessons and learning.
Technology allows for teachers to be creative in their instruction and planning by utilizing the various technological tools which fosters student’s participation and enthusiasm towards learning. The technological platform has been the medium by which teachers were able to provide continued instruction to their scholars throughout the pandemic. It is most likely the platform that will be used by majority of educational institutions for the upcoming school year, as we are unsure of the future, given the current state of the nation. My philosophy of educational technology supports the Constructivism, theory of Jerome Bruner, in which the teacher’s main task is to facilitate students learning and inspires students to be independent and creative learners. Siemens (2004) postulates that learning is changing, and we are relying more on technology and the networks that learners create to access knowledge that exists outside of the individual.
Teaching and learning enhance diversity of students, every student learns in a different way and with the continued use of technology in education, we can create a safe environment for everyone, where social distancing is a priority as well as our students educational needs. In my philosophy technology has a major role as the new classroom platform. Technology has changed education and will continue to, as more new inventions are surfacing, and technology continues to evolve. Technology will continue to expand and foster the educational system in many ways.