Ed Tech Philosophy
At the core of my educational philosophy lies a commitment to harnessing the transformative power of technology to enhance learning experiences, empower educators, and equip students with the skills necessary for success in a rapidly evolving world. I have taught upper elementary math and science in the classroom for 17 years. In those 17 years, our learners' learning landscape has dramatically evolved. With the advancement of technology applications, students can extend their thinking and make world connections while staying in the classroom. Through simulations for science concepts and video chats with industry experts, students are no longer confined to what's possible in the classroom. Evolving and encouraging these changes will allow teachers to stay current and prepare students for tomorrow.
Education technology should provide innovation in the classroom and foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. It should supplement traditional teaching methods and integrate them into the classroom to create dynamic and engaging learning environments. Having students take a concept and create their own way of showcasing their thinking elevates mastery. It could be as simple as making a short video to explain how to solve a math problem or creating graphics to give a weather report using a green screen. Exposing students to various problems and applications of knowledge will continue to build the skills they need in the future.
My philosophy advocates for a student-centered approach, leveraging technology to personalize learning experiences catering to diverse learning styles, abilities, and interests. Technology in the classroom can level the playing field for students. Incorporating text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and spelling assistance software are all easy things educators can do to meet the diverse needs of their learners. Students can also select a learning path that reaches them where they are. Having lessons recorded and available for playback allows the student to see and/or hear the lesson again and can catch students who may have missed that class. Technology in the classroom should empower educators to innovate, experiment, and continuously improve their instructional methods through data-driven instructional practices. Collecting data on students has always been challenging. However, we now have the technology to predict how students will do on future assessments and to help identify what content standards need to be readdressed.
Education technology should allow time to focus on digital citizenship and responsible use of technology. Educators should explicitly teach digital literacy, online safety, and ethical practices to ensure students develop the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and ethically. All of these things add up to be a full day, but with the digital citizenship piece in place, it would be easier to trust your students with technology and technology with your students. Incorporating a 5-minute lesson each day would provide students with much-needed guidance.
Technology in education should be thoughtfully integrated and purposefully utilized. Technology can empower learners and inspire a lifelong passion for learning. By embracing innovation and collaboration, we can cultivate a future-ready generation equipped to thrive in the complexities of the 21st century.
