Educational Technology Philosophy

Education is the movement from darkness to light Allan Bloom

The purpose of education is to prepare children for all aspects of the society in
which they live. As a future educator, I believe the desired product of an education is
simple; it is success! Due to an ever-changing society, education has also changed. We
cannot prepare tomorrows leaders for a society from fifty years ago; we must prepare
them for today, and beyond. We live in a digital society. Our lives revolve around
technology on a daily basis. It should be no surprise then, how technology impacts
education. We must not only prepare our students for a technological society, but we
must take advantage of the infinite amount of opportunities technology can provide in the
classroom.
As a future educator, my ultimate goal is to teach children with learning and
behavior disorders and moderate and severe disabilities. I believe all children have the
ability to learn. All children have potential and deserve to be driven to reach that
potential. When I hear someone say a child cant do something, my mind starts racing
and I begin thinking of ways I can turn all of the cants into cans. I aspire to be an
educator that prepares her students for the real world. I want my students to be able to
function in a society that can be challenging considering their abilities. Technology is
absolutely essential to learners with disabilities. Assistive technology is an amazing asset
in improving the capabilities of students with disabilities. I have witnessed non-verbal

students communicate using technology, and I have witnessed a deeper level of learning.
When non-verbal students are able to express basic wants and needs, they gain a sense of
independence that is critical in not only the learning process, but in the real world. The
use of technology will be critical in my classroom.
I want to be a light for my students. Teaching, to me, is like a lighthouse. My
students are the ships sailing alone, on sometimes, troubled waters, until they see a light
on the horizon. The light guides them in the right direction. It makes them feel safe and
protected. It gives them hope that although sometimes the path is rough, there is a sense
of calmness waiting. A light that by shining believes they will make it. Sometimes, if it
werent for a lighthouse, ships would be lost and sink. I want my students to see me as a
lighthouse. I want them to know that I am there to guide them, nurture them, and protect
them.
I believe learning occurs through social interaction. According to Lev Vygotskys
sociocultural theory, development depends on interaction with people and the tools that
the culture provides to help form their own view of the world ( Gallagher, 1999).
Vygotsky believed these tools could be passed from person to person by imitative
learning, instructed learning, and collaborative learning ( Gallagher, 1999). Imitative
learning occurs when one person models and the other person copies, or follows.
Instructed learning is remembering instructions, and then using them to self-regulate.
Collaborative learning involves group learning, where everyone works together to learn.
Technology, today, is the cultural tool to help my students succeed. Through
modeling (imitative learning), my students will be able to use technology to enhance
learning. Through one on one instruction (instructed learning), my students will retain

information and apply it to classroom work and the real world. Through whole group
instruction and collaboration with peer tutors (collaborative learning), my students will
gain deeper understanding while developing important learner relationships. Assistive
technology will aid my students disabilities so everyone in my classroom has a voice,
and can actively participate in the learning process. Children (the ship), will learn
effectively through interaction from both the teacher (the lighthouse), and technology (the
light).
My students will use technology to aid disabilities. In this part, technology will
be crucial, because it will ensure all of my students have the ability to actively
participate. My students will use technology to collaborate. This enhances social skills
and promotes understanding. My students will use technology to learn in scenarios they
wouldnt normally get to experience. Standards will be worked into each one of my
objectives as necessary. In doing this, I will be able to foster 21st century learning skills,
prepare for differentiated instruction, and prepare my students socially for the real world.
The role of technology in teaching and learning is absolutely necessary for todays
classroom. We live in a technology-rich society. If educators completely leave
technology out of the classroom, our children will fall behind. Students must be taught,
and encouraged to use technology to gain and display knowledge. In my classroom, I
will heavily rely on different modes of technology to aid my students disabilities and
enhance learning. Educational technology will address diverse needs in my classroom. It
will help me differentiate instruction to accommodate the needs of all of my students.
Technology will also be used to assess knowledge through programs such as Lexia Core
5, and MobyMax. These programs will allow students to participate in differentiated

instruction and engaging assessments. Every student will gain and display knowledge
differently, especially with disabilities. I will use technology to build a classroom
community of learners where students will share information and collaborate. Literacy
and media tools will be implemented to enhance and support students individual goals.
A window to an entirely new world will be opened through technology through virtual
field trips. It will also be used for day-to-day learning concepts through morning circle
time and center rotations to aid in knowledge related to life skills, and to supplement
lesson rotations through centers. In order to incorporate technology successfully, I will
rely on the TPACK model. Through the TPACK model, all elements of my lessons will
compliment one another, and mistakes will be avoided that could negatively impact
students.
I grew up with a cousin who was born blind and mentally challenged. The
doctors described him as a miracle. Throughout my life, my greatest joys have come
from watching him do what others said he could not. The reason he overcame so many
obstacles in his life, is because he had a teacher who was a lighthouse for him; she simply
believed in him and she guided him to success. Not all students with disabilities are as
lucky as him. My students will be. I know that with guidance, faith, and determination
cants have the ability to transform into cans.

I want to witness more miracles as a

teacher, as I move my students from the darkness to the light.

References

Gallagher, C (1999) Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky. Retrieved from: http://

www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/vygotsky.htm