Technology Philosophy

In a world where communication, entertainment, and business is conducted primarily through technological devices and methods, it leads to the conclusion that education should jump on the bandwagon in order to be current, relevant, and engaging. The new generation is being raised by tablets, e-readers, phones, and television programs rather than blocks, dolls, and bikes; as a result, attempting to teach academic skills to them in the archaic method of textbooks and lectures is likely to be less than successful.

Incorporating technology into the classroom is vital for the progression of not only society, but education itself. The possibility of increased communication--between students, teachers, peers, and professionals around the nation and the world--opens up a possibility of new doors and experiences, as does the new wealth of knowledge that new sites and technologies can offer. Additionally, reaching students on a variety of levels increases the chance of understanding and the viability of the knowledge.

However, because technology is still relatively new, especially in the classroom, and is not universally accessible, a balance between the old and the new is needed. Not every student will have a computer or have internet at his or her home, and even those that do may experience troubles with technology, such as when a site is under maintenance or a link won't properly load. In the physical classroom at well there is the danger of relying too strongly on technology, as a power outage, disconnection, or improper set-up can result in the loss of an entire class period if there is no alternative lesson prepared. Also to keep in mind is the danger of what can be accessed and the potential for technological abuse, such as mature material, plagiarism, loss of physical interaction and social skills, and harassment, that becomes more attainable through the wide reach and detachable nature of technology.

With everything in mind, I do believe that technology should be incorporated into the educational world, both to teach the mechanical skills that will be needed in the professional world and to broaden the content and media that education delivers. I also believe that education should not become reliant on computers and the internet as both still experience difficulties, flaws, and inaccessibility and putting all the eggs in one basket has historically never been a sound idea. As an educator, I will aspire to open new doors through technology and to increase engagement and communication, and to teach social skills, creativity, content, and resourcefulness without it.