My career has changed so much and so rapidly that creating a philosophy for my thoughts on Educational Technology is really necessary for me professionally, not just for this course. I addressed my beliefs in various areas and classes, but to combine them all together as one overarching philosophy encompassing the entire field will be a rewarding challenge. Through this paper, I will address my background leading up to today, as well as my thoughts on education and the use of technology within it.
My mom taught my entire childhood and I developed a passion for helping people at a young age. I helped others regularly in high school and even tutored while in college. Growing up, I was always good at drawing and while you are young everyone tells to pursue it. As you get older, people tell you to get a real job and stop messing with art. I was a master at MS Paint as well, which got me interested in digital art. However, my small school had no digital art courses. Since I was in the top 10 in my small class, I was offered a full ride to the local junior college where I majored in art. Then I went to UT Dallas where I majored in art and technology and planned on becoming a 3D artist. While I enjoyed the field, I realized it was not a career path for me and decided to get my teaching certificate while I figured out the technology field I would go into if I was not going to do 3D animation.
I was offered a job in a very low SES urban area and really struggled my first year. While I initially planned to leave after my first year, I started to get the hang of it and found I was pretty good at it and overall enjoyed it. I teach digital art and other technology courses now and have helped to grow the entire technology program. I love to learn so I have enjoyed growing my knowledge in the technology and education fields as well as pursuing academic degrees within the fields.
I teach the way I do because I feel it is how I would want to be taught. I have a great work ethic, in fact I often think (and know) I work too much. I do this because of the way my parents taught me and my personal character. I like to be good at something and I am good at what I do. I can help others with what I do, both students and teachers. I also base my work ethic on a verse I like in the bible, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23 – so I try not to think about what or how much or little those around me do.
A great teacher develops relationships and motivates students to have intrinsic motivation to work hard, do well and learn. They get the students to take responsibility for their learning. Teachers should serve more as a guide to learning. I want the students to gain the knowledge that they can learn anything, even if they do not know anything about it going in or it is difficult to learn initially. They have access to resources to teach themselves. Their future is in their hands, not in mine. I want students to feel empowered and that they are valued and important.
I try to make lessons relevant. I try to use time available for students to create, not just listen. I want students to make the learning relate to what they are doing or need. I also teach concepts. Software changes daily almost, they cannot learn one and be done. They have to understand key concepts and functions and have the ability to adapt. I try to expose students to as many software programs and hardware devices as possible. This helps build confidence in learning new things in a safe place. I teach others how to find and use resources to take ownership of their own learning.
My beliefs on the role of education most closely relate to the Reconstructivism philosophy. While I believe each philosophy has valuable additions to the field of education, for our current time I believe Reconstructivism is the most relevant. I recently stated in another course:
[Reconstructivism] addresses the problems we face with differences in social class, discusses global issues, aims to support all students, and develop critical thinking. It does not focus as much on knowledge of facts and core subjects as some of the other philosophies do, which I believe is needed, but with the rapidness the world changes we need students to know how to think and learn to keep up in the world that is becoming more connected by the day. I will note that I realize this is not the type of philosophy most aligned with standardized testing.
Reconstructivism is a very romantic and idealistic view of education, but I believe we should at least aim to be the change we wish to see as Gandhi said. We may not be able to change everything but we can at least try and make a small impact in the world.
I work in the urban area of Oak Cliff. We’re a charter school and have students in neighboring south Dallas areas. Many of the these students come from backgrounds I cannot even fathom. After being here for four years, I have been there longer than most of the staff. These kids are used to teachers leaving. They are raising their siblings. They go home to no parent homes, are surround by violence, drugs, and alcohol. The fact they even get to school amazes me.
Yes, it is the parent’s job to raise the child, teach morals, work ethic, etc… The fact is, it doesn’t happen and isn’t going to happen. However, we can try to do something about it. A Theodore Roosevelt quote I like is, “To educate a person in mind and not in morals, is to educate a menace to society.”
People cannot help where they come from, but our job is teachers is to give them the best chance to succeed, in every manner, academically, socially, etc… and have a life of happiness as possible.
At the end of my third year I realized all the struggles going on in the education field and that I could make a small impact and help in my corner of the world. I began my masters in education immediately after completing my masters in art and technology. I initially planned on becoming an assistant principal then eventually a principal and following that route. Remember, this is only three years after I thought I would become a 3D modeler and was not even considering the education field.
Shortly after starting the administration program, something I had not even expected happened. I was offered a position to be my district’s instructional technology coordinator, a position I had never even heard of. This was a perfect fit. I could help all the teachers and students, while doing something I loved and was good at.
With this transition, my philosophy has had to change to encompass the new responsibilities of my role. I was not thinking about how to teach my particular content to my students, but find ways to share new information with staff, not just automate as Alan November describes, and find ways to engage students of all levels, ages and backgrounds. I have heard Alan November give talks, read his articles and actually sat next to him at lunch once! He is really a visionary and I subscribe to most of his philosophies.
I am very aware that, as Alan November stated, the more I see the less I know. When I first set out, I was very frustrated and scared because I didn’t know it all. I was afraid I would be unfit to be successful in my new position. Then after hearing Mr. November speak and share all of these same feelings and more I felt more comfortable.
My goal will be to provide teachers all of the technological tools they need to be successful in their classes. These tools could be in the form of websites, software programs, acquisition of hardware equipment, staff development and training, and the effective integration of these technologies into their curriculum. As Mr. November says,“This is not about technology. It’s about understanding the impact of technology on how students learn.” The technology schools acquire should be driven by needs in instruction. Heidi-Hayes Jacobs, an educational consultant, says, “Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event.”
I have the knowledge to educate students and teachers in technology in a variety of ways and to help staff integrate technology into all subjects, grade levels and curriculums. Technology is the future of education. As John Dewey said, “If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.”
One of the key factors for me in this new position will be effective communication. While I did not coin the phrase, I always say, "You cannot not communicate, so you might as well do it right." Communication is key for success in any field. In my new position I should be closely connected with many key staff within the district. I plan to have close communication with the IT department, the curriculum department, all campuses and district personnel.
I believe the most important communication will be with teachers. Teachers are the staff that is working with the students. I will hear their concerns and find ways to help them in the timeliest manner as possible. The teacher's focus should be on instruction and whatever I can do to assist them or lighten other technological burdens is what I will do. I will occasionally sit in on team meetings to find out needs of the teachers. Also, I will even demonstrate teaching strategies with the resources we have in the teacher’s classroom. If a teacher sees the success of a resource with their students, they would be much more willing to attempt it themselves. Teachers also desire to be able to communicate more with each other.
“There can be infinite uses of the computer and of new age technology, but if the teachers themselves are not able to bring it into the classroom and make it work, then it fails,” Nancy Kassebaum, U.S. Senator said. We have several great technologies currently, but many have not been used to their full potential. There is no doubt I will have to learn certain sites, software and hardware that I may not currently be familiar with. This is part of working in the ever-changing world of technology though. I will work hard to learn these resources and share that information with our teachers. New teachers will need extra training at the beginning of a school year. However, even current teachers often only know the basics of a program and are missing out on the great capabilities that are available to them. Beyond group trainings, I would also be available for individual trainings as teachers need.
I constantly am striving to learn more and truly am a lifelong learner. I am self-taught in many software programs. Anything I do not currently know I will find a way to learn either on my own or through professional development. I will also continue to grow our school's reputation as a cutting-edge technology school by presenting at conferences locally, state-wide and across the nation. I will participate in professional development opportunities to keep current with emerging technologies to develop and maintain expertise.
In conclusions, I believe that it is the role of education to provide as many opportunities for success to all students in whatever ways are needed. I believe technology is going to only continue to grow as a way to engage students and encourage them to take over responsibility for their learning.
