Reflection 2

Organizations that align with my educational technology vision and philosophy:

Texas Computer Education Association, http://www.tcea.org/ 

This is a large state organization devoted to educational technology. It was founded in 1980 and has a membership of about 12,000. I selected this organization to showcase in this activity because I have been a member of it since I became involved in career and technical education. Its annual convention brings many session and booth presenters who offer information and leads on new and innovative techniques in educational technology.

Mission

The Texas Computer Education Association is dedicated to the improvement of teaching and learning through the use of computers and technology.

Purpose

The Texas Computer Education Association is devoted to the use of technology in education. Its primary focus is on integrating technology into the P-12 environment and provided its members with conferences, workshops, newsletters, the Internet, and collaborations with her education and business. It is affiliated with the International Society for Technology Education, which provides a two-way channel of information throughout the world.

Goal

The goal of Texas Computer Education Association is to become the dominant force in education. To accomplish this, it follows a long range strategic plan which includes the following three goals:

Goal 1: TCEA will provide services and resources that meet the changing needs of educators.

Goal 2: TCEA will build capacity for the organization through the board, staff, facilities, and strategic partnerships.

Goal 3: TCEA will lead in advocating for education at the state and national levels.

Career & Technical Association of Texas, http://www.ctat.org/

The Career & Technology Association of Texas (CTAT) is made up of a diverse group that shares one  common goal—preparing students for the high-tech, high-skill careers of the 21^st century.  I selected this organization to showcase in this activity because, like TCEA, I have been a member of CTAT since I became involved in career and technical education.  I strongly believe in the preparation of our youth for the 21^st century.  Our youth must be educated today in the very best possible way in order to meet the technological demands of tomorrow. Educators, too, must prepare in order to teach our youth. Texas educational technology organizations such as CTAT (and TCEA) help us prepare and meet the technological demands of the future.

Mission

CTAT is the leading advocate for career and technology education, enabling educators to prepare students of all ages for successful careers through rigorous academic and work-based learning programs, promoting instructional partnerships with business and industry, and increasing public awareness of the career opportunities available to students.

Purpose

To provide leadership in developing an educated, prepared, adaptable and competitive workforce.

Strategic Priorities

Professional Development
Advocacy and Awareness
Awards and Scholarships for Leadership and Excellence

My Definition of Educational Technology

Educational Technology integrates technology into the curriculum, applying the most current tools (computers and other electronic technologies) to address educational needs. With this in mind, Educational Technology motivates students to attend school daily, connecting and relating; it enhances their instruction, interacting, visualizing, and accessing; and it helps students learn 21^st century technical skills so that they can be prepared for the workplace.  

In brief my educational technology philosophy embraces technology in the classroom, reaching out to the globe, interacting, accessing, visualizing, connecting and relating. 

Reflection 1

Rough Draft: My Educational Technology Philosophy

I recall a time when much of what occurred in the classroom was teacher-centered: the teacher lectured (boring) and asked and answered most of his/her own questions (what?). Did I learn anything? Sure I did. I had no choice, or else. But, the mind set of the majority of students of that era (and their home life) was different. Fast forward to the present. Students are born, figuratively speaking, with a form of technology in their hands. And with varying home life styles, it’s no wonder students are tech savvy by the time they reach high school. Their tech items have kept them company, and they have logged thousands of tech hours by the time they reach high school. As such, high school teachers have competition in the classroom, and it’s not another teacher. Whereas the State-mandated curriculum might have remained more or less the same throughout the ages, a teacher’s manner of instructing has had to make a complete turnaround in order to capture and retain a student’s interest. And why not use their tech-savvy abilities in the classroom? Afterall, today’s students are tomorrows leaders, and any one of our students could be the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates.

After studying the various philosophical schools of thought, I strongly identify with two of them. I am a student of constructivism. I feel classroom teachers should be facilitators, not lecturers, where the focus is upon the student and their learning, where students arrive at their own conclusions, thus helping to expand their minds logically and theoretically and hone in on their critical-thinking skills. Teachers should converse with students as much as possible, bringing into the classroom their life-long experiences, thus creating an open learning environment. Students should be encouraged to take initiative in their own learning, and I feel learning in groups is best.

I am also a student of pragmatism.  Certainly education is a necessity of life, since what we know and how much we know helps us deal with real-life problems. Always say the truth, because only the truth will set us free in any situation. School should be a place where students learn not only academics but also about the social world. Afterall, school must prepare students for the real world, how to fit in and adjust. Students should have flexibility, with time and room to grow intellectually, because not every student learns at the same pace. There should be much hands-on or action-oriented education, as students’ capacity to learn increases when they have ownership of their own learning. There should also always be room for improvement, personally and educationally, and a diversified curriculum, including studies in vocations.

I am a strong believer that by combining these two philosophies, this will enable me to help shape today’s student into assertive, intelligent and very capable human beings even with technology in the midst. With that said, I feel we must embrace technology for the sake of our students and humankind. Technology will only get smaller in size and bigger in its intended purpose. I have always believed that two minds work better than one. As such, we should empower technology, using these tools to converse and collaborate with others around the globe. Lastly, students should be the collaborators, because, afterall, being students of teachers from the various schools of philosophical thought they would learn to think critically and on their own two feet.

Little did I know after working in the private sector that I would have a passion for the education world, that I would enjoy being with high-school age students for hours at a time, helping them learn life-long skills and hopefully making a difference one student at a time.  Early on I learned that every day in the classroom is a challenge, a good challenge, and that no two days are alike, that some days I must let the mood of the classroom dictate the path of my lesson, and that that is alright. By no means am I done with education, because in order for me to educate, I must continue to be educated, both academically and technically.

In addition, discuss how this exercise can/will possibly assist you in identifying future technology projects for this class and in other areas. In other words, how is having your philosophy down in writing helpful to you?

Writing down my philosophy helps me identify who I am and where I am headed. It helps me to ponder and decide upon my next step(s) educationally and technically.

At this point, what potential uses do you see for blogging?  

I see blogging as a means to express myself and learn from others. Again, I am a strong believer that two heads are better than one, so I know I will learn a lot from my classmates.

Stephen Downes' article on Educational Blogging was written in 2004. Have we met this potential? What's preventing us from doing so?

Perhaps in other areas of the country educational blogging is in full force, but in my district, firewalls in our computer information system block many websites, including any social site, making it impossible for teachers and students, in this case, to learn about blogging or to blog. I think the culture of the powers that be presently at my district impede our advancing any further with this technology. Perhaps a different mind set at the helm would make a difference. Perhaps at the end of my master’s program, and with a strong argument in hand, I might make a difference in these areas.

November's article, Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning outlines six areas to think about and changes on the horizon with technology and education. Which one stood out to you the most and why?

Although all six of Mr. November’s “Framework for the New Culture” play an important role in today’s technically-inclined, educational society, I must say that collegiality is one area that stood out the most for me. Because I strongly believe that two heads are better than one, I believe teachers should collaborate together from lessons to projects to field trips and gatherings, because working as a team makes for a stronger bond. In our department we encourage same program area teachers to meet and together create their annual lesson plans. Because we have four comprehensive and four alternative secondary campuses in our district, we encourage all our teachers in same program areas to be aligned with one another in their curriculum so that as students withdraw and enroll into any one campus, the student will not miss from any lessons.  On the other hand, I feel our teachers should empower collegiality and share their knowledge and wisdom not just with students but with the world. We have a powerful tool within our reach, the Internet, and I don’t feel we are not using it to its fullest potential.

And finally, what are some of your expectations for this class? 

Since the concept of automating vs. informating is new to me, I am hoping to hone in on my knowledge of these technologies and to be able to informate rather than automate. I am hoping to learn to use informate to its fullest potential.