TECHNOLOGY PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy in using Technology in Education

Technology can enhance education and prepare our students for the future. With that in mind we need to look out into the future and prepare our student for the changes over the next 40 years of their life. Look back over your lifespan, what changes have taken place? Personally I’ve seen the following changes: main frame computers to laptops, hand crank mimeograph machines to copy machines. box phones to iphones, walkman to ipod touch, video cameras with vhs tapes to camcorders with scandisks. There will be no end to technology and it’s multifaceted uses. With that in mind we either jump on the technology boat or sink.

Fact is that if we, the administration, teachers, aides, students & parents are not into the age of technology we are going to be left behind! Society is NOT going to wait on us to catch up with the rest of the world. We need to prepare the future generation for the world of technology and continue narrowing what is called the digital divide.

Most students start school with technology experience, cell phone, ipods, computers, gaming systems, trail cams, webcams, camcorders, and much more. Technology helps with the thinking processes. Society needs to be able to think on their own and technology enables that process to start. It improves decision making, fitting in with the world, support in the workforce, as well as a social outlet.

Life is so fast paced now with technology. Who wants to wait on the old school ways?
Society has changed from oh it will be here in a week to the attitude of wanting it yesterday, so the option for ordering online and getting it overnight is the new way of life. Even if that means paying extra for that item. “GOTTA HAVE IT NOW ATTITUDE!”

You have to ask yourself the following question, “What do students already know?” “What do they need to know for the future?” Video games, cell phone, ipods, trail cams, camcorders, digital cameras, making videos with music attached, presentations using multiple technologies. If an adults purchase a new piece of technology, they don’t have to go far to learn how to operate it, just ask one of the youth around. They are more than happy to show you how to set up things, how to find features, etc. Our youth are much more willing to go with change if that change brings them updated technology, whereas the older generation fights change do to the fact that they have to learn how to operate the new features on the new technology.

Teachers come equipped with a tool box of the trade and technology is just another tool in our tool box. That tool box is not just for students, but rather for teachers, administration, district level supervisors, audits etc.

Why technology in education? Can we say data driven? It’s easier to put numbers into a grid and let it figure things out for us. Evaluations, Curriculum design and assessments can be done much quicker when done via technology. We are required to show data to support our decisions and using spreadsheets can help us with data. How do we integrate technology into teaching and learning, since teachers are to focus on teaching instead of technology? Just how do we do that? Is it in the wording of our questions? Asking the right questions? As with anyone if you push students or teacher to hard they will move away from technology and that is not going to be a fit with society in the future.

Don’t get left behind on the technology highway. Technology is the way of today and will be in the future. I get excited when I learn some new piece of technology and that rubs off on the students. Do you enjoy learning new things to teach your students?