Educational Technology Philosophy 1

Educational Technology Philosophy

Michaela Carpenter
Carson Newman University

Educational Technology
Dr. Emma Cody-Mitchell
April 12, 2018
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Abstract
In this educational technology (ET) philosophy, I will describe my values and beliefs on

technology in the classroom. I want to become a Spanish teacher. Technology can help students

learn so much about the Spanish language. Most of my college Spanish classes have included

classwork or homework using technology. I believe technology has so many benefits to helping

students learn a new language and broaden their horizons beyond the North American boarders.
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Technology is all around us. Almost everyone in America has access to some form of

technology. Education has become greatly advanced with the use of technology. The U.S. is

constantly advancing in technology and with this advancement comes more tools for education.

Education is so important and having the right resources is the best way for students to succeed.

I believe that ET is any technology that is used to enhance the educational experience.

With the way that technology can connect us, students can use technology as a resource to

connect with the world around us. Technology can open many doors to the world outside of the

US. Using technology is a great tool to help students better understand the Spanish language.

Students will be able to search for videos, article, and even songs to help them with

understanding and memorization. Having these resources and touch of a button can allow

students to enjoy and understand what they are learning.

Teaching with technology can allow students to take control and responsibility of what

they are learning. Also, there is software that allows students to work at their own pace. With this

style of 21st century technology, students are able to perform in ways they haven’t before. Most

of the U.S. is embracing the impact of technology in the classroom. The faster we realize the

positive effects of it, the better off students will be. Students will be able to take their knowledge

of subjects to another level, as well as their knowledge of how technology works such as;

Google, Microsoft Office, etc. Students will then be able to take that knowledge and apply it to

their future achievements.

In an article form Purdue University, they state, “However, in many ways, technology has

profoundly changed education. For one, technology has greatly expanded access to education.”

(Purdue University, 2018). This is very true, and most will agree. Technology gives students the

ability to learn more updated material than a textbook, and also provides more information on
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certain topics. Students can then search for material they need and learn to decipher which

content is credible and liable. Looking at things such as; date, author, organization, etc. can help

students determine which content is worth using. “Digital citizens” who learn to use technology

wisely will enable themselves to succeed. (Maloy, p. 68, 2017).

Using technology continuously will help students to build onto the knowledge they

already have on technology. This is called constructivism. Most students already have basic

knowledge of technology and how to use it. Working with is continuously throughout their

school career will give them the opportunity to grow their knowledge. This will also give them

an understanding of what content they prefer and can make technology their own. Students

constantly build up their knowledge on lesson topics, so building their knowledge on technology

will become just as beneficial in the 21st century.

I have been taught with technology all throughout high school and college. I have found

that I enjoy learning through technology more than a textbook. I have become comfortable with

learning through technology and believe that most students can become comfortable with this

learning style as well. In the future I hope to work in a school with technology available for

students to use. Even if there is a limited supply, you can always figure out ways to use what you

have to the best of your ability. Because am so used to using technology to learn Spanish, I

believe I will find it beneficial to teach with it as well. All of my assignments, and quizzes are

online for my Spanish courses. Also, my class is required to interview a native Spanish speaker

through Talk Abroad. Talk Abroad is where we skype with someone from South America and

only speak Spanish. This helps us with fluency and being able to practice in real world situations.

I believe using technology to have this experience is so beneficial to help learn more about the
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Spanish language. I hope to incorporate what I have learned and the tools I have used in my

future classroom.

ISTE for educator standards are, in a sense, guidelines for educators to follow that will

allow students to succeed using technology. “Shape, advance and accelerate a shared vision for

empowered learning with technology by engaging with education stakeholders.” (ISTE 2a,

2018). This standard is great because it describes how, as a teacher, you should be the voice of

technology. You should help your students as well as your colleagues not to be intimidated by

new technology. “Advocate for equitable access to educational technology, digital content and

learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of all students.” (ISTE 2b, 2018). This standard

describes the importance of giving equal opportunity for all student to have access to technology

for education. “Model for colleagues the identification, exploration, evaluation, curation and

adoption of new digital resources and tools for learning.” (ISTE 2c, 2018). This standard

describes your role to your colleagues to show them that technology has so many beneficial

features. Sharing your knowledge on technology can allow you to become a reliable resource for

you colleagues to reach out to. Following these standards and collaborating with students and

colleagues will allow you and your students to succeed in the classroom.

There are so many uses for technology in the classroom. Smartboards, desktop

computers, etc. can all be useful to enhance student learning. These tools can allow students to be

interactive in class as well as carry on their lesson at home. At home or in the class students can

take assessments to see what they know. As a teacher it is your job to use the correct type of

assessment for your students. Assessments can see where your student’s strengths and

weaknesses lie. Being able to pinpoint what areas need improvement will give you an idea on
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where to guide your lessons. This will give students a chance to actually learn new material

instead of repeating the content they are already aware of.

While technology has many benefits, it can also have negative affect on students learning.

Some use of technology can become a distraction, and if there are limited firewalls many

websites that are not useful for learning can be accessed and take away from the lesson. There

will always be students who will become unfocused and not stay on task, so there should be strict

monitoring of what students are accessing. Another concern would be that not all families are

able to provide their children with access to technology. This can cause some students to fall

behind, and it is completely out of their hands. As a teacher, you should acknowledge this

concern and provide an alternative for these students. No child should be left behind due to their

financial state. Being aware of the concerns will allow teachers to not be naïve and help students

to stay safe online.

Ultimately, I believe technology has more positive sides than negative sides. I believe

technology can help students and enhance learning. Even the smallest amount of technology in

the classroom can benefit students tremendously. Being a “digital native” (Maloy, p. 45, 2017).

in growing up with technology, I find technology to be an open door to discover so much more

than what a textbook can provide. I believe students should be guided more towards technology

than being lead away. Using technology in the right way can allow everyone to excel in anything

they put their mind to.

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References
How Has Technology Changed Education? (2017, April 25). Retrieved April 12, 2018, from
https://online.purdue.edu/ldt/learning-design-technology/resources/how-has-
technology-changed-education

ISTE Standards FOR EDUCATORS. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2018, from
https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators

Maloy, R. W., Verock-OLoughlin, R., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2017). Transforming learning
with new technologies. Boston: Pearson.