Reflective Blog #1

Educational Technology Philosophy

Educational Technology is a very broad field with a constantly changing definition. As technology evolves, so will its use in the classroom. Having a guiding philosophy will aid instructors in choosing the best methods for instruction on a continuing basis.

The purpose of education and training is to efficiently transfer knowledge from the instruction to learner. The knowledge to be transferred is gathered based on student need for the performance of a given task or skill. The learner provides the need and the destination for knowledge.

An instructor serves as a guide to facilitate learning. It is the instructor’s duty to treat every learning goal as unique. This requires hyper-current * research to find the most effective technology available at any given point in time for importing knowledge to the student.

My objective as a teacher is to stay continually updated for the best instruction   and learning solutions available. I must understand learner needs and have an arsenal of tools available to address those needs. Technology must consist of everything from a pencil to a supercomputer, with an understanding that it is in a constant state of evolution. As a teacher and technology maven, my goal is to pair the proper instructional technology to the desired learning outcome.  Once the instruction is planned, my duty is to facilitate the learner as they achieve their goals.

The method I use for instruction is based on Constructivist theory with a blend of other philosophies.  All students are unique in that they have varying developmental levels, personal backgrounds and views of education. There is not one homogenous instruction that works in every situation. Some students need more structure, others more freedom. Some students are goal oriented, while others are not. All of the learning theories have validity when put into the proper context. My approach is to find the right mix for my students.

A great teacher must learn how to manage expectations. Everyone involved in the educational process has an expectation. The students expect to learn in a safe and satisfying environment. Parents expect to be informed and have their children receive the best education possible under safe conditions. Colleagues rely on you to effectively teach your subjects to aid them in teaching their own. Administrators expect a teacher to manage their classroom in a way that advances student success. It is my job to have the highest expectations of all.

Though Educational Technology is a broad and evolving field, having a philosophy will help instructors navigate through any change.  Staying hyper-current should be the mission of anyone in the technology field. Methods for instruction also fall in and out of favor and new learning theories may be on the horizon.  Instructors must be life long learners with a mission to provide the most effective and efficient instruction available on a real time basis.

Philosophy Reflection

Writing an Educational Technology Philosophy creates a starting point for all future technology endeavors. The first edition may have some rough edges that will appear over time if used properly. The beauty of this is that it is my own philosophy and I am free to change as necessary. Just like technology, a philosophy will evolve over time.

Blogging Reflection

As an English teacher, I can see a variety of applications for blogging in a high school setting. Unfortunately, the technology is misunderstood and misused many times. Some school districts have taken knee jerk reactions and banned blogging and other forms of social media because of the inability to directly monitor and oversee all of the content. Blogging has not met its potential because of these fears. There needs to be a higher level of understanding among administrators and teachers to effectively use blogging. I agree with Stephen Downes in his article from 2004 on Educational Blogging, that merely posting links and assignments is not really the true meaning of blogging, however, it is the basis for students to identify the process and begin to produce work no matter how contrived. Aren’t all lessons contrived in some fashion?

November Learning Reflection

“All the world is a stage
And all the men and women merely players”

…William Shakespeare (As You Like It 2/7)

The Alan November article on “Creating a New Culture of Teaching and Learning” had some great points. The one idea that commanded my attention, however, was cameras in the classroom. Strong arguments can be made on both sides of this issue. I have personal experience with it. With the onset of web cams, a large auto service chain incorporated a feature where you could see your car being worked on in real time. It did not last long. It was not in the company’s best interest to broadcast every dropped wrench, busted knuckle, broken bolt or misspoken word. Should every doctor be broadcast during examinations and operations? It is the beginning of a George Orwell scenario. Reality T.V. gone completely wild. The pressure of being broadcast would change the environment in the classroom. Most parents should not be interested in a daily grammar lesson, nor should they be allowed to question each disciplinary action in a class.  Certainly, there are some bad teachers out there that are in need monitoring, but live broadcast is not the way to go.







Concept Map

This concept map was created Bubbl.us. The map shows the relation of Educational Technology to the aspects of improving education, staying current on trends, using learning philosophies grounded in research and practical applications of technology in a learning environment.