Running head: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT 1

Education Technology Philosophy Statement

Ashlyn Brooke Cooper

Carson-Newman University
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Abstract

This essay is going to be a direct reflection on how I view the role of technology in the

classroom and in my future students life. It will state my personal and professional perspective

on how to integrate technology into the classroom effectively. I will be addressing different

topics regarding educational technology such as: the state of todays technology, how technology

will better me as a teacher, how I will use technology to better my students education, and how I

will manage the participation gap within my classroom and students.

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Education Technology Philosophy Statement

Educational Technology and Its Role in the Classroom

Educational technology from a personal perspective is seen as a tool to be used in every

classroom across the United States. I believe educational technology opens up so many different

doors in education as far as access to information, narrowed-down research, time efficiency,

along with other tools to help guide our students education in a positive direction. The

Associations for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) defines educational

technology as the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance

by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources (Forest).

From a professional perspective, educational technology is not only benefitting our students, but

it is benefitting the educators as well. Using technology helps educators become better-rounded

individuals by sharpening every tool in the educational tool box we have. It helps us become

better researchers, better communicators, better creators, better leaders, and most importantly,

better educators (ISTE for Educators). At a professional perspective, educational technology

keeps educators constantly learning, which is necessary to reach our students.

In todays classroom, technology is being used all throughout whether that is by using

computers, iPads, overhead projectors, or smart boards, technology is more evident in the

classroom than ever before. Technology is being used as a way to engage the students with the

material at hand. This generation has never grown up without the use of technology, so the most

effective way to get through to them is to use technology. It has been statistically shown that

technology improves student learning in todays classrooms. I am studying special education,

and technology is benefitting my students in more positive ways than ever before. Educator

Kathryn Neives says that one of the biggest problems she runs into with her SpEd students is
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their self-esteem (Neives). She says that educational technology is a tool of empowerment to

them by allowing them to be creative and innovative in their own unique ways (Neives). Within

special education, every student has different needs that need to be met in order for them to learn

successfully. Technology allows for personalized learning for every student in time efficient

ways. Another way Mrs. Neives tackled her communication issue with her students is by

allowing them to answer Q&A within her Google Slides presentation (Neives). She stated her

quitter students felt much more comfortable behind a keyboard and could express their thoughts

without feeling like they could be victimized by their peers or embarrassed by their disability

when communicating out loud (Neives). Educational technology is improving and making

classrooms more versatile, by allowing educators to address every unique need of every student

without having to go completely out of their way to do so.

Technology is going to better me as a teacher in so many different areas. First and

foremost, technology is going to keep me organized. Technology is going to allow me to be time

efficient with my students (ISTE Educators: Leader). I only get a certain amount of time to teach

my students in a particular subject, so being able to provide them guided notes instead of

handwriting everything will save so much time in the classroom. Within the last few years, many

schools are allowing students to borrow computers or iPads for the academic school year.

Because of this, students can type their notes much quicker and stay organized as well with all of

their homework and class assignments. Plus, with technology, I can meet every unique need of

every child in my classroom so that they can be successful in their learning experience (ISTE

Educators: Leader). Technology is also being used as a creative tool for students to express their

individuality and that is important to me as an educator (ISTE Educators: Designer). This

individuality can be used as an assessment methods for students to show me what they have
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learned during the unit we had just covered. They could make PowerPoints, videos, magazine

articles, comic strips, just whatever they want to show what they have learned during the

previous unit.

My future students will hopefully love how I integrate technology into my classroom. I

plan on making my classroom as interactive as I possibly can, without allowing it to become a

distraction to the students learning. I will always try and stay up-to-date on the latest of

technology and try to get my hands on it first within my school. I love technology and what it

can do for learning, so whenever I bring in something new, my students are going to marvel over

being the first ones to use it. With this constant integration of new technology, my students are

going to be continuous building their 21st century skills and learning how to use new

technologies that are constantly being introducedISTE (ISTE Students: Digital Citizen). My

students have to develop my trust on computer and search engines before I allow them to do

everything on their own. Our students need to be educated on safety and ethical use of

information on the internet. When people ask my students about the most important thing when

using the internet, they will know it means be safe, ethical, responsible, and as an opportunity to

learn. They will know that it is a privilege, not a right to use technology in my classroom and

when abused, it will be taken away.

The biggest challenge in todays classroom with technology is the participation gap or

digital divide. The participation gap is defined as students who lag behind their peers

technologically and educationally because they lack regular access to the latest technologies

(Maloy, P. 32). These would be the students with low socioeconomic status or that live in the

middle of nowhere with no service or access to wifi. The digital divide can be defined as

differences in technology access and daily use between low income and affluent households
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(Maloy p. 32). In my classroom, I would address the students out right and ask them who has

access to internet at home and who does not. By directly asking them, you do not have to guess

at who does and who does not have internet access at home. If you have younger students, you

can always ask parents if they have access to wifi or internet at home at the beginning of the year

to answer these questions. If you find out that you have a student who does not have access to

these resources at home, you can allow him to have extra time in class to finish up his homework

or online discussions with the class. Another strategy would be to allow this student to do his

research for a project during class or recess, printing the information, and letting him or her take

it home to work on. Regardless, every classroom will be different as far as the participation gap

and digital divide. Some classrooms will have it and some will not. If it is present in a classroom,

it will provide some challenges, but it will not stop the integration of technology in the

classroom. It is almost inevitable to not have technology in the classroom today. There are

always ways around these challenges. You could provide a similar, but different assignment in its

place if needed. For me, I would allow the student some extra time in class when possible to get

the online assignements or research done.

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References

Forest, E. (2017, February 21). Definitions of Educational Technology. Retrieved November 06,

2017, from https://educationaltechnology.net/definitions-educational-technology/

ISTE Standards FOR EDUCATORS. (2017). Retrieved November 06, 2017, from

https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators

ISTE Standards FOR STUDENTS. (2017). Retrieved November 06, 2017, from

https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students

Maloy, R. W., Verock-OLoughlin, R., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2014). Transforming

learning with new technologies (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson. Retrieved November 06,

2017.

Nieves, K. (2016, November 08). Using Technology to Empower Students With Special Needs.

Retrieved November 06, 2017, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/empowering-

special-education-students-technology-kathryn-nieves