Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

PhilosophyofTeachingandLearningwithTechnology
EmilyKronenwetter
ClarionUniversity

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

ForaslongasIcanremember,Ihavebeenoverlyinterestedintechnology.Absolutely
alltypesoftechnology,computers,iPads,graphingcalculators,iPhones,oreventhesimplest
tablet,engagedme.However,overtheyears,asIhavebecomemoreinvolvedineducational
technology,Ihaveencounteredpeoplewhoareresistanttothewholemovement.Ibelievethat
technologyhashelpedtheeducationalfieldrapidlyprogressinregardstostudentengagement
andproductivity.
Ihavestrongbeliefswhenitcomestoteachingandlearningwithtechnology.
Technologyshouldbeusedtoassiststudentsinbecomingactivelyinvolvedintheireducation.
Whenusedappropriately,thisshouldshifttheroleswithintheclassroomsothatthestudentsare
nowtakingresponsibilityoftheirownlearningandteachersaretakingmoreofafacilitativerole.
Studentsshouldbeabletoconstructtheirownlearningusingvarioustoolswhilestillallowing
studentcenteredapproaches(Woodbridge,2004).Thereshouldbemanyopportunitiesgivenfor
classroomstointeractwithvariousformsoftechnologyexposureiskeyincreatingsuccessful
digitalcitizens.
Ibelievethattechnologypromotescreativity.Insteadofusingposters,weareabletouse
digitalstorytellingapps,digitalflyers,orcreatevideostoeffectivelyandefficientlydisplayour
information.Thisallowsustoconstantlyadapttoanychangesthatmayoccur.Technologyalso
providesexperiencewithcooperativelearning.Inordertopromotegroupwork,wecomplete
groupresearchprojects,playinteractivegames,andcreateactivitiestogether.
Technologyhasbecomepracticallynecessaryinstudentengagement.Morespecifically,
educationaltechnologyhaspermeatedallareaofourlivesincludinghowwelearn(Valdez,n.d.).

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

Wearenolongersatisfiedwithpaperandpencilactivitiesandneedmoreactiveinvolvementin
ourlearning.We are no longer motivated to memorize and repeat information because we use a
different way to learn, think, and problem solve the Internet (ChamorroPremuzic,2013). It
maybetakingabrainbreakinthemiddleofacomprehensionlessonorusinganonlinereview
tool(suchasPlickersorKahoot!)toassesspriorknowledge.Studentsshouldbetaughtusingas
manyformsoftechnologyaspossible.Itisanexcitingtimeintheeducationalfieldasweare
beingexposedtonewwaysofcommunication.Itiseasiertocommunicatewithfamiliesof
studentsthaneverbefore.Ibelieveininvolvingcommunitiesandfamiliesasregularlyas
possibleintheirchildseducation(Valdez,n.d.).Thiscanbedoneeasilynowwithaccessto
email,textmessaging,andvariouscommunicationappslikeRemind101.
Asaneducator,itiscrucialtobeginexposingstudentstotechnologyopportunitiesthat
allowstudentstodiscover,create,andcommunicateinmanyforms(Valdez,n.d.).Doingsowill
provideamoresuccessfullearningenvironmentforeverychild.Mygoalistocontinuelearning,
adapting,andgrowingtobecomemoreknowledgeableinregardstotechnologyineducation.I
willcontinuetousetechnologytoprovidemeaningfulexperiencesformystudentstobecome
modeldigitalcitizensintodaysworld.

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

References
ChamorroPremuzic,T.,PH.D.(2013,May07).Istechnologymakingusstupid(and
smarter)?PsychologyToday.RetrievedAugust1,2016,from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mrpersonality/201305/istechnologymaking
usstupidandsmarter
Valdez,G.(n.d.).Criticalissue:Technology:Acatalystforteachingandlearninginthe
classroom.NorthCentralRegionalEducationalLaboratory.RetrievedAugust8,2016,
fromhttp://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlyg.htm
Woodbridge,J.(2004,March01).Technologyintegrationasatransformingteachingstrategy.
RetrievedAugust07,2016,fromhttp://www.techlearning.com/news/0002/technology
integrationasatransformingteachingstrategy/56552#