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.