Reflective Blog #2

Educational Technology - The use of technological resources to facilitate learning and improve student performances. These resources can include physical and world-wide web resources. What it has shown me is that we can use educational technology to reach every type of learner and individual, whether they are normal learners or students with a learning disability. In the past, we have looked to assistive technology in mostly helping students with physical disabilities. However, educational technology can reach both the learning disabled and physically disabled. My article this week focused on how tech-tools are helping austic students increase their communication, social skills and apply fuctional living skills in the virtual world by using blogs, online chats and online resources. Isn't that what the students of ETEC 524 are also doing this semester (no-less using the same tools)? It is pretty amazing! My educational philosophy does align with this week's activities in that education should be flexible and fails when it molds students to one type of learner. I do plan to continue exploring more and open to being dissuaded if I find a better argument against my philosophy so far.

Reflection on Videos - Wow! Watching the two videos was an eye-opening experience. I had to reflect and then admit that I had allowed myself to stay a Digital Immigrant. My arguments for not 'evolving' stem from trying to stay on a budget and not buying anything I don't have to. My motto (and excuse) is, "I can't miss what I've never had." It proved right because once I adopt a technological gadget, I find myself can't needing to be without it and then wondering why I waited so long to get it. Ignorance and fear can go a long way. However, in just two weeks in this class I have learned and applied things I had only heard of . My decision to return to school has put me on the right track to catching up with the Digital Natives. After reading, Do They Really Think Differently?, I observed my two-year old and noticed that she watched her educational videos in spurts. Just as the article said, she paid attention during the instruction and then played with her toys during the songs. And while she doesn't own her own computer yet, she can already navigate You.tube when she wants to watch the Chipettes video, "All the Single Ladies". As for my eight-year old son, his teacher told me this week that he is having problems with his multiplication facts. I could not understand why because I pratice with him using flashcards and manipulatives. This weekend I let him play multiplication games online and by golly, I think he's got it. This Digital Immigrant is seeing for herself that learning can be fun and obtained through (video) games.

Reflective Blog #1

Educational Technology Philosophy (Rough Draft)

I am a teacher. I have not always been a professional educator but I teach. I teach my children. I teach in the workplace. I teach fitness classes. It is part of everything I do. I wrote my original educational philosophy paper thirteen years ago. My teaching career has been in Special Education and working in communities with underprivileged students with learning disabilities. I know my thoughts and ideas on education has changed over the years. My original philosophy was written for an ideal classroom with excellent students in a perfect world. It briefly discussed technology education. A solid educational plan now has to include technology. Technology plays an integral role in how educators teach and how students learn.

My teaching practices are based primarily on the philosophy of Pragmatism. I believe that education starts from the minute we are born and continues for life. Society should stress an emphasis that education does not end after graduation from high school. Education is ongoing. I agree with Pragmatism's methods that education should be flexible. Education fails when it molds students into one type of learner. Pragmatism realizes that children are not at the same level as their peers and can not be educated the same way. My experience is that the teacher should focus on the individual and know a student's strengths and weaknesses. Then allow for modifications that will enable a student to be successful. I defend my actions by the motto, "Equal is not always fair." Education should be action-oriented and real-life situations be used to teach problem-solving. If the importance of a lesson does not have relevance in a student's life, it will not be learned. Teachers should find what motivates a child to learn and design an individualized education plan to ensure success. Pragmatism stresses the importance of educating an individual to be a social being and allowing them participate in and direct their own social affairs. The state now mandates that Special Education students in middle school through high school attend their ARD meetings and give input on their educational goals and transitional plans for when they leave the public school system.

Effective teachers are learners. In my own experience of training and leading, I have always believed that a leader is a lifelong learner. I have always been open to receive instruction. I learn from my co-workers, both teachers and instructional assistants. The people in my life play interchanging roles as teacher and student. I take pride in helping others to succeed.

Effective teachers are relationship builders. One must have the ability to connect to others. I have lived in multi-cultural cities and have worked with people from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. I know how to relate to those undergoing adversity and share in their successes. Empathy is one of my major strengths. It enables me to build better relationships. I believe this is key to reaching my students. Technology allows the opportunity for building social relationships. Students learn not only to communicate their ideas and express their opinions to their teachers and classmates but to almost anyone in the world.

I want to be an effective teacher that is part of the solution that a school envisions for our children and our community. If I can help children to succeed, then their achievements are not only theirs or mine but it would be their family's and their community's as well. I am fortunate to work in a good school district with solid projected plans on how to improve and integrate future technology in its schools. The key in having a good educational technology program is in the planning. The problem with some school districts is that they buy programs and equipment without knowing if it is compatable with its curriculum or the equipment it already has.

School districts should empower students to use technology to navigate, learn and use the many resources available to them in the world wide-web. This will afford them the many opportunities available to them to succeed in relationships and life.

Self Reflection - Being able to write down my philosophy will enable me to reflect on my growth after I have completed this course. I am curious to see how it will impact or if it will change my original philosophy on educational technology. I will be able to identify technology in my class and assess if it is on the right track to towards informating.

Educational Blogging - Blogging provides an open forum for journaling, sharing ideas, collecting information, resources, and knowledge, and improving community relationships. The five major uses for blogs in education mentioned by Henry Farrell in Crooked Timber are being utilized by Dr. W. As a student, blogging will allow for me to chronicle my thoughts and work. I believe blogging has met its purpose. However, blogging does not afford instantaneous feedback and response such as instant messaging. Blogging is a robust technology that is constantly changing and improving for the better.

Ceating a Culture for Teaching and Learning - As I started reading, I thought that I already knew the potential problems that technology in the classrooms could create for teachers, students, and parents. However, after reading Part 5: Automating vs. Informating, I was completely blown away. I never thought about the implications that technology could have on the rich and poor. I realize that students who have a computer at home have an advantage of having more time to do quality work. But I never thought beyond mandated public education. Knowing how to expertly navigate the web and experiencing real-life application of technology by taking an online class, would certainly level the playing field for a high school drop out, a stay at-home mom, a person with a disability, etc, and give them an opportunity to improve their quality of life. Dr. W. and the students of ETEC 524 validate Mr. November's point.